Wednesday, July 8, 2015

Kauffman Stadium

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

Probable Pitchers: Chris Archer (9-5) vs. Jeremy Guthrie (6-5)

The Kansas City Royals welcome the Tampa Bay Rays to Kauffman Stadium on Wednesday. The probable starters are Chris Archer for the Rays and Jeremy Guthrie for the Royals. The opening line for this matchup has Tampa Bay at -128 and Kansas City at +118. The over/under was set at 7.5. The Rays have a 36-44 over/under record and a 48-37 run line mark, meaning they cover 57% of the time. The Royals have a 34-37 over/under record and a 45-35 run line mark, which means they are covering the spread 56% of the time.

The Rays come into this game with a 43-42 record, and they are 23-17 away from home. Chris Archer has a 9-5 record on the season, an earned run average of 2.18 and a 0.95 WHIP. The Rays are 11-7 over his 115.2 innings pitched and he's also given up 82 hits over that time period. Against the over/under, the Rays are 7-8 in his starts. He is getting 3.8 runs from the team when he takes the mound. The bullpen has an earned run average of 3.88 and they have given up 254 base hits on the year. Opposing teams are hitting .236 against the Rays bullpen while walking 116 times and striking out 273 times. Tampa Bay is averaging 8.44 strikeouts per game while getting 7.75 hits per nine innings as a team. They rank 6th in baseball in team earned run average at 3.40.

As a team, Tampa Bay is batting .241, good for 26th in the league while putting together a .240 average away from home. The Rays hold a .377 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .305 which is good for 22nd in baseball. Evan Longoria leads the team in hits with 81 while the team ranks 28th in baseball with 8.01 hits per game.

With a 47-33 overall record, Kansas City will come into this game 25-15 at home. Jeremy Guthrie has a record of 6-5 while sporting an earned run average of 5.42 on the year with a 1.46 WHIP. The Royals have a record of 10-6 over the 89.2 innings he's pitched during which he's given up 107 hits. Against the over/under, the Royals are 7-7 when he starts. He is getting 4.1 runs from the team when he takes the mound. The bullpen has an earned run average of 2.03 and they have given up 181 base hits on the year. Opposing teams are hitting .192 against the Royals bullpen while walking 88 times and striking out 236 times. Kansas City is averaging 6.86 strikeouts per game while getting 8.07 hits per nine innings as a team. They rank 8th in the league in team earned run average at 3.52.

As a team, they are batting .268, good for 2nd in the league while putting together a .270 average at Safeco Field. The Royals hold a .399 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .318 which is good for 12th in baseball. Mike Moustakas leads the team in hits with 87 while the team ranks 4th in baseball with 9.11 hits a game.

Tampa Bay has a team fielding percentage of .986 after having committed 42 errors with 744 assists and 2,271 put outs for the season. The Royals have committed 41 errors on the season with 770 assists and 2,097 put outs leading to a team fielding percentage of .986 on the year.

Tampa Bay Rays Betting Trends

The Tampa Bay Rays are 36-44 against the over/under so far this season

The Tampa Bay Rays are 48-37 against the run line so far this season

Kansas City Royals Betting Trends

The Kansas City Royals are 34-37 against the over/under so far this season

The Kansas City Royals are 45-35 against the run line so far this season

Injuries to Watch

Tampa Bay Rays

07/07/15 RF Steven Souza Finger Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (7/6)
06/12/15 P Andrew Bellatti Shoulder Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (6/10)
06/10/15 P Jake Odorizzi Oblique Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (6/6)
05/31/15 2B Tim Beckham Hamstring Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (5/31)
05/10/15 P Drew Smyly Shoulder Injury is on the 60 day disabled list (5/6), out for season
05/09/15 P Alex Cobb Forearm Injury is on the 60 day disabled list (3/27), out for season
05/03/15 CF Desmond Jennings Knee Injury is on the 60 day disabled list (4/26)
04/29/15 P Kirby Yates Pectoral Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (4/29)
04/18/15 P Jeff Beliveau Shoulder Injury is on the 60 day disabled list (4/22), out for season

Kansas City Royals

07/07/15 CF Lorenzo Cain Hamstring "?" Game 2 Tuesday vs. Tampa Bay Rays
07/07/15 3B Mike Moustakas Personal placed on the family emergency/bereavement list
06/18/15 P Yordano Ventura Hand Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (6/13), expected to be activated & start Thursday vs. Tampa Bay Rays
05/17/15 P Brian Flynn Shoulder Injury is on the 60 day disabled list (5/16)
04/06/15 P Tim Collins Elbow Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (4/6)
04/04/15 P Kris Medlen Elbow Injury is on the 60 day disabled list (3/07)

Josh's Pick: Take the Royals

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