Tampa Bay Rays (14-15) vs Kansas City Royals (15-15)
Game Info: Wednesday, April 30, 2025 at 7:05 pm (George M. Steinbrenner Field)
The Line: Betting Odds: Tampa Bay Rays -185 / Kansas City Royals +154 — Over/Under: 8.5
The Kansas City Royals and the Tampa Bay Rays meet Wednesday in MLB action from Steinbrenner Field. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for this game. Here’s a Kansas City Royals vs. Tampa Bay Rays prediction.
Starting Pitching Matchup
The Kansas City Royals will send out Noah Cameron for his major league debut in this start. Drew Rasmussen will get the start for the Rays here and is 1-1 with a 2.10 ERA and 27 strikeouts this season. In his career, Rasmussen is 2-0 with a 2.53 ERA and 12 strikeouts against the Royals.
Kansas City Royals Recap
The Kansas City Royals will be out to build on their series-opening 3-1 win over the Rays on Tuesday to fall to 15-15 on the year. After this series, the Royals will head on the road for a series against the Baltimore Orioles.
Royals Win 8 Of Their Last 9
Bobby Witt Jr. has a team-high 36 hits with 12 doubles and 9 stolen bases, while Vinnie Pasquantino has 19 hits with 3 doubles, a triple, 3 home runs, and 16 RBIs. Maikel Garcia added 27 hits with 7 doubles, 2 home runs, and 10 RBIs, and Salvador Perez also has 2 home runs and 15 RBIs, but also has the unfortunate distinction of leading the Royals with 24 strikeouts so far this season.
Why the Kansas City Royals will win
- The road team has won each of the Rays’ last six games.
- The Rays have lost each of their last six games against AL Central opponents.
- The Rays have failed to cover the run line in each of their last 13 Wednesday games as home favorites.
- The road team has covered the run line in each of the Rays’ last six games.
Kansas City Royals Player Prop Facts
- Bobby Witt Jr. has recorded a Double in four of the Royals’ last five games against AL opponents that held a losing record.
- Bobby Witt Jr. has recorded at least one RBI in seven of the Royals’ last eight games against the Rays.
- Salvador Perez has recorded at least one Single in 11 of the Royals’ last 12 road games against AL East opponents that held a losing record.
- Hunter Renfroe has recorded at least one hit in each of his last 13 appearances in night games against AL East teams that held a losing record.
- Mark Canha has hit a home run in each of his last two appearances with his team as a road underdog against the Rays.
- Mark Canha has scored at least one run in each of his last seven appearances against AL East opponents that held a losing record.
- Bobby Witt Jr. ranks T5th in the league in Steals (9) this season.
Tampa Bay Rays Recap
The Tampa Bay Rays come into this game looking to bounce back after ending up with the loss in Tuesday’s matchup to fall to 14-15 on the year. After this series, the Rays will head on the road for a series against the New York Yankees.
Rays Have Five-Game Win Streak Snapped
Jake Mangum has 23 hits, including 4 doubles and 7 RBIs, with a team-high 8 stolen bases, while Jonathan Aranda has 25 hits with a team-high 8 doubles, 4 home runs, and 13 RBIs. Brandon Lowe has 23 hits with 4 homers and 15 RBIs as well, while Junior Caminero has 29 hits with 6 doubles, a team-high 6 home runs, and 13 RBIs. Yandy Diaz has 30 hits with 8 doubles, 3 homers, and 13 RBIs, and Kameron Misner has 23 hits with 7 doubles, 3 homers, and 11 RBIs as well, while Christopher Morel has a team-high 36 strikeouts as well this season. Jose Caballero has 7 stolen bases, while Taylor Walls and Jonny DeLuca each have 4 stolen bases as well this season.
Why the Tampa Bay Rays will win
- The Royals have lost 17 of their last 18 night games against AL East opponents following a road win.
- The Rays have won eight of their last nine night games against the Royals following a loss.
- The Rays have covered the run line in seven of their last eight games after playing the previous day.
- The Royals have failed to cover the run line in six of their last seven games as underdogs against the Rays following a win.
Tampa Bay Rays Player Prop Facts
- Danny Jansen has hit a home run in three of his last four appearances against the Royals.
- Drew Rasmussen has recorded a win in three of his four previous appearances against the Royals.
- Danny Jansen has recorded an RBI in three of his last four appearances against the Royals.
- Yandy Diaz has recorded at least one Single in seven of the Rays’ last eight games as home favorites.
- Danny Jansen has recorded a hit in each of his last six appearances against the Royals.
- Ha-Seong Kim has scored at least one run in seven of his last eight Wednesday night appearances with his team as a favorite.
Total Runs Facts
- Each of the Royals’ last seven night games as underdogs have gone UNDER the total runs line.
- Seven of the Rays’ last eight games against AL Central opponents have gone UNDER the total runs line.
Kansas City Royals vs. Tampa Bay Rays Prediction
I’m on the under here. Cameron’s making his major league debut here, but Cameron’s had electric stuff at the Triple A level and what’s been complimented most about him is his control which is going to be big at the Major League level considering his low-90s fastball doesn’t blow anyone away, but I think he can have some success here. On the other side, I think Drew Rasmussen has another solid outing here, and I think that we have a low-scoring duel. Give me the under.