Tampa Bay Rays vs Kansas City Royals Prediction MLB Picks 7/3/24

The Tampa Bay Rays and Kansas City Royals meet Wednesday in MLB game 2 action at Kauffman Stadium. Here’s a Tampa Bay Rays vs Kansas City Royals Prediction. This article will include a Tampa Bay Rays vs Kansas City Royals Pick.

Tampa Bay Rays Betting Preview

The Tampa Bay Rays are 43-42 on the year after games against the Mariners and Nationals. The Tampa Bay Rays have scored 11 runs in their last 3 games and 4 or more runs in 5 of their last 10 games. The Tampa Bay Rays have won 6 straight games when scoring 4 or more runs. Yandy Diaz leads the Tampa Bay Rays with 92 hits and 40 RBI, while Isaac Paredes and Amed Rosario have combined for 145 hits and 69 RBI.

Kansas City Royals Betting Preview

The Kansas City Royals are 47-40 on the year after games against the Marlins and Guardians. The Kansas City Royals have scored 9 runs in their last 3 games and 3 or fewer runs in 7 of their last 11 games. The Kansas City Royals have lost 6 of their last 7 games when scoring 3 or fewer runs. Bobby Witt Jr. leads the Kansas City Royals with 107 hits and 54 RBI, while Salvador Perez and Maikel Garcia have combined for 164 hits and 92 RBI.

Tampa Bay Rays vs Kansas City Royals Pitching Pick Matchup

Ryan Pepiot gets the ball for the Tampa Bay Rays, and he is 4-4 with a 4.40 ERA and 83 strikeouts this season. Pepiot has allowed 25 hits and 15 runs in his last 25.1 innings. Pepiot has a 3.46 ERA and .208 allowed batting average in 26 road innings. This will be Pepiot’s first career game against the Kansas City Royals.

Michael Wacha gets the ball for the Kansas City Royals, and he is 4-6 with a 3.91 ERA and 67 strikeouts this season. Wacha has allowed 10 hits and 2 runs in his last 10.1 innings. Wacha has a 3.86 ERA and .294 allowed batting average in 32.2 home innings. Wacha is 2-4 with a 5.54 ERA and 32 strikeouts in his career against the Tampa Bay Rays.

Why the Kansas City Royals will Beat the Rays

• The Royals have won each of their last four home games following a loss.
• The Rays have lost five of their last six road games against AL Central opponents following a road win.
• The Royals have covered the run line in each of their last four home games following a loss.
• The Rays have failed to cover the run line in three of their last four games at Kauffman Stadium following a road win.

Kansas City Royals Player Prop Facts

• Bobby Witt Jr. has hit a home run in three of the Royals’ last four home games against the Rays.
• Bobby Witt Jr. has recorded a Double in each of the Royals’ last three night games against AL East opponents that held a winning record.
• Kyle Isbel has scored at least one run in four of his last five home appearances against opponents that held a winning record.
• Vinnie Pasquantino has recorded at least one RBI in each of the Royals’ last six games at Kauffman Stadium against opponents that held a winning record.
• Kyle Isbel has recorded at least one total base in each of his last eight appearances against AL opponents that held a winning record.
• Kyle Isbel has recorded at least one hit in each of his last eight appearances at Kauffman Stadium against opponents that held a winning record.
• Michael Wacha has recorded five or more strikeouts in five of his last six appearances against AL opponents.
• Bobby Witt Jr. has recorded at least one Single in 13 of the Royals’ last 15 games against AL opponents that held a winning record.
• Bobby Witt Jr. ranks 5th amongst qualified players for Batting Average (.311) this season.

Tampa Bay Rays Player Prop Facts

• Brandon Lowe has hit a home run in each of the Rays’ last three games at Kauffman Stadium against AL Central opponents that held a winning record.
• Yandy Diaz has recorded at least one RBI in five of the Rays’ last six games against opponents that held a winning record.
• Taylor Walls has scored a run in each of his last four appearances against AL opponents that held a winning record.
• Brandon Lowe has recorded two or more total bases in four of his last five road appearances against AL Central opponents that held a winning record.
• Yandy Diaz has recorded at least one Single in eight of the Rays’ last nine night games against opponents that held a winning record.
• Isaac Paredes has recorded at least one hit in each of his last nine appearances in night games against AL Central teams that held a winning record.

Matchup/League Facts

• The Kansas City Royals rank T3rd in the league for home runs allowed this season (77).
• The Kansas City Royals rank 7th in the league for steals this season (77).
• The Tampa Bay Rays are one of only 4 teams in the league to rank top 10 in both strikeouts and walks allowed this season.
• The Tampa Bay Rays rank 5th in the league for steals this season (84).

Tampa Bay Rays vs Kansas City Royals Prediction

The Tampa Bay Rays have played the better baseball over the last week or so, but the Royals have still been the better team overall. Also, the Royals are kind of due for a breakout offensive performance, and it’s fair to say Michael Wacha has been sharp this season than Ryan Pepiot. I’d need a more favorable price to side with the Rays in this spot. I’ll roll with the Royals at home and the cheap price.