Thursday, July 9, 2015

Kauffman Stadium

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

Probable Pitchers: Nathan Karns (4-4) vs. Yordano Ventura (3-6)

The Kansas City Royals welcome the Tampa Bay Rays to Kauffman Stadium on Thursday. Nathan Karns is the probable starter for the Rays and he'll face Yordano Ventura of the Royals. The opening line for this matchup has Tampa Bay at +141 and Kansas City at -151. The over/under was set at 7.5. The Rays have a 37-44 over/under record and a 48-38 run line mark, meaning they cover 56% of the time. The Royals are 46-35 against the run line and have a 35-37 over/under record. They cover the spread 57% of the time.

The Rays show up with a 43-43 record, including 23-18 on the road. Nathan Karns has a 4-4 record on the season, an earned run average of 3.21 and a 1.24 WHIP. In his starts, the Rays are 7-10 over his 98 innings pitched this season while giving up 84 hits during those innings. Their record against the over/under when he starts is 8-9. He is getting 3.3 runs from the team when he takes the mound. The bullpen has given up 267 hits on the season and have a earned run average of 4.12. The bullpen has struck out 275 and walked 119 batters this season while opposing teams hit .240 against them. Tampa Bay has a team average of 7.89 hits allowed per game and are averaging 8.36 strikeouts per nine innings. With a team earned run average of 3.51, they are 8th in the league.

As a team, Tampa Bay is batting .240, good for 27th in the league while putting together a .238 average away from home. The Rays on-base percentage sits at .304, which puts them at 22nd in the league and they have a team slugging percentage of .379. With 82 hits, Evan Longoria leads the team while his team ranks 28th in hits per game with 7.99.

Kansas City is 26-15 at home while holding a 48-33 overall record on the season. Yordano Ventura has a record of 3-6 while sporting an earned run average of 4.68 on the year with a 1.26 WHIP. In his starts, the Royals are 4-8 and he has allowed 64 hits over 67.1 innings pitched this season. Their record against the over/under when he starts is 4-7. He is getting 3.4 runs from the team when he takes the mound. The bullpen has given up 185 hits on the season and have a team earned run average of 2.01. The Royals bullpen has struck out 243 batters and walked 91 this season while opposing teams have hit .191 against them. Kansas City has a team average of 8.05 hits per game and are averaging 6.9 strikeouts per nine innings. With a team earned run average of 3.50, they are 7th in the league.

As a team, they are batting .270, good for 2nd in the league while putting together a .275 average at Safeco Field. The Royals on-base percentage sits at .322, which puts them at 10th in the league and they have a team slugging percentage of .401. With 87 hits, Mike Moustakas leads the team while his team ranks 3rd in hits per game with 9.21.

In terms of team defense, the Rays have a fielding percentage of .986 with 44 total errors, 765 assists and 2,320 put outs. Over the course of this season, the Royals have accumlated 43 errors while having 784 assists and 2,151 put outs leading to a .986 fielding percentage.

Tampa Bay Rays Betting Trends

The Tampa Bay Rays are 37-44 against the over/under so far this season

The Tampa Bay Rays are 48-38 against the run line so far this season

Kansas City Royals Betting Trends

The Kansas City Royals are 35-37 against the over/under so far this season

The Kansas City Royals are 46-35 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)
06/10/15 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

07/08/15 CF Lorenzo Cain Hamstring is expected to be in the starting lineup Wednesday 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)

Guy's Pick: Take the Rays

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