The Tampa Bay Rays (53-27) host the Kansas City Royals (22-55) at Tropicana Field on Sunday with the home team eyeing a split of the four-game series.
The Royals lead the series 2-1 after winning 9-4 on Saturday. Starter Jordan Lyles got the win, allowing four runs on eight hits over six innings.
Freddy Fermin was 3 for 3 with a home run, two runs, and three RBIs in the win. Edward Olivares went 3 for 4 with a home run and a double.
He scored three runs. Wander Franco went 2 for 4 with a home run and two RBIs for the Rays. Vidal Brujan added a double and one run.
ON THE MOUND
Daniel Lynch (1-3, 4.45 ERA) is in line to get the start for Kansas City. The lefty threw seven scoreless innings in his last start, a 1-0 home win over the Tigers on Tuesday. He was credited with the win, giving up one hit while striking out two and walking two.
For Tampa Bay, righty Tyler Glasnow (2-1, 4.97 ERA) takes the mound. It’s his first appearance of the season against the Royals. In his last start on Tuesday, Glasnow took the loss at home against the Orioles. He threw 4.1 innings and gave up six runs on six hits, striking out seven and walking two in the 8-6 defeat.
AT THE PLATE
Over the last five games, Kansas City has averaged 4.6 runs a game, a small gain compared to their season average of 3.8. Against right-handed pitchers like Glasnow this season, the Royals have a .668 OPS, the fourth lowest in the league.
Salvador Perez is the team’s most potent producer against right-handers with a .888 OPS in 192 at-bats. Tampa Bay is averaging 6.6 runs per game in the last five, up slightly from 5.6 for the season.
The Rays have a .824 OPS against lefties in 2023, the third highest in the league. With a .911 OPS over 55 at-bats, Randy Arozarena has been their best hitter against left-handers.
HOME AND AWAY
Kansas City is 12-27 in road games in 2023, scoring 3.5 runs per game while allowing 5.1 runs. Tampa Bay has gone 33-10 in front of their home fans this season, averaging 5.9 runs per game while surrendering 3.8. In the last 10 games between the teams at Tropicana Field, Tampa Bay is 6-4 with an average scoreline of 4.7-3.1.
STANDINGS UPDATE
The Royals are fifth in the AL Central, 17 games behind the division-leading Twins. The Rays lead the AL East by five games over the Orioles.
SportsTips’ MLB Pick:
TB Rays -1.5 (-130)
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
