Wednesday, August 3, 2016

Tropicana Field

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

Probable Pitchers: Edinson Volquez vs. Jake Odorizzi

The Kansas City Royals head to Tropicana Field on Wednesday to take on the Tampa Bay Rays. The probable pitchers are Edinson Volquez for the Royals and Jake Odorizzi for the Rays. The opening line for this game has Kansas City at +120 and Tampa Bay at -130. The over/under is 7.5. The Royals have a 46-54-5 over/under mark and a 54-51-0 run line record, meaning they cover 51% of the time. The Rays are 45-59-0 against the run line and have a 43-54-7 over/under record. They cover the spread 43% of the time.

The Royals head into this game with a 50-55 record, and they are 18-36 on the road. Starting pitcher Edinson Volquez has a 8-9 record with an ERA of 4.70 and a WHIP of 1.41. He has 99 strikeouts during his 130.1 innings pitched and he has given up 135 hits so far this year. He has surrendered 9.3 hits per 9 innings and he has a FIP of 4.25. The bullpen this season has an earned run average of 3.43 and they have allowed 324 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .245 against the pen while they've been struck out 326 times and walked 120 times this year. As a unit, Kansas City has given up 8.77 base hits per nine innings while striking out 8.26 hitters per nine. They are 20th in the Majors in team earned run average at 4.33. The Royals pitchers have collectively given up 899 base hits and 444 earned runs. They have allowed 142 home runs this season and they allow 1.4 homers per nine innings as a staff. Kansas City as a pitching staff has walked 330 batters and struck out 847. They walk 3.2 men per 9 innings while striking out 8.3 per 9. They have a team WHIP of 1.33 and their FIP as a unit is 4.51.

As a team, Kansas City is hitting .265, good for 6th in the league while putting together a .249 average on the road. The Royals have a .398 team slugging percentage and an OBP of .314 which is good for 21st in the league. They rank 9th in baseball with 9 hits per contest. Eric Hosmer comes into this game hitting .277 and his on-base percentage is at .336. He has 110 hits this season along with 52 runs scored and 58 runs batted in. He's struck out 88 times and has walked 35 times. Alcides Escobar is hitting .256 and he has an on-base percentage of .283. He has totaled 110 hits so far while scoring 35 runs and he's driven in 27. He has walked 17 times and has struck out 61 times. The Royals have 944 hits, including 176 doubles and 90 home runs. They've stolen 63 bases while they've been thrown out stealing 20 times. Kansas City has walked 242 times this season and they've struck out 764 times as a unit. They've left 689 men on base and have a team OPS of .712. They score 3.88 runs per contest and have scored a total of 407 runs so far this year.

Tampa Bay comes into this game with a 22-31 home mark and a 42-62 overall record. With an ERA of 3.88, Jake Odorizzi has a 5-5 record and a 1.21 WHIP. He has 115 strikeouts over the 125.1 innings he's pitched during which he has given up 117 hits. He has allowed 8.4 hits per nine innings and his FIP stands at 4. So far this season the bullpen has an earned run average of 4.52 and they have given up 314 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .265 against the Rays bullpen while being struck out 269 times and walking 106 times this season. As a team, Tampa Bay has allowed 8.88 hits per nine innings while striking out 8.43 batters per nine. They are 16th in the league in team earned run average at 4.26. The Rays pitchers as a team have surrendered 905 base knocks and 434 earned runs so far this season. They have given up 131 home runs this year and they give up 1.3 home runs per nine innings as a staff. Tampa Bay as a staff has walked 303 hitters and struck out 860. They give up a walk 3 times per 9 innings while they strike out 8.4 per 9. Their team WHIP is 1.32 while their FIP as a staff is 4.17.

As a team, they are batting .238, good for 30th in the league while putting together a .226 average at home. The Rays hold a .416 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .305 which is good for 26th in baseball. They rank 28th in baseball with 7.99 hits per contest. Logan Forsythe comes into this matchup batting .266 and he has an OBP of .325. He has 81 hits this year along with 43 runs scored and 29 RBI. He's struck out 72 times and has walked on 22 occasions. Evan Longoria is hitting .284 and he has an OBP of .333. He has collected 115 hits so far while he's scored 53 runs and drove in 58. He has earned a walk 30 times and has punched out 98 times. The Rays as a unit have 831 base hits, including 178 doubles and 134 homers. They have 37 stolen bases while they've been thrown out 23 times. Tampa Bay as a team has walked 303 times this year and they have struck out 945 times. They've had 685 men left on base and have an OPS of .721. They score 3.95 runs per game and have totaled 411 runs so far this season.

Kansas City Royals Betting Trends

The Kansas City Royals are 46-54-5 against the over/under so far this season

The Kansas City Royals are 54-51-0 against the run line so far this season

Tampa Bay Rays Betting Trends

The Tampa Bay Rays are 43-54-7 against the over/under so far this season

The Tampa Bay Rays are 45-59-0 against the run line so far this season

Injuries to Watch

Kansas City Royals

07/31/16 P Wade Davis Hip 15-day DL (7/28)
07/29/16 P Luke Hochevar Shoulder 15-day DL (7/25)
07/19/16 P Kris Medlen Shoulder 60-day DL (5/11)
05/26/16 3B Mike Moustakas Knee 60-day DL (5/23); out for season
04/10/16 P Mike Minor Shoulder 60-day DL (3/15)
04/04/16 P Tim Collins Elbow 60-day DL; out for season
03/31/16 P Jason Vargas Elbow 60-day DL (3/15)

Tampa Bay Rays

07/31/16 RF Oswaldo Arcia Elbow 15-day DL (7/27)
07/29/16 1B Logan Morrison Forearm 15-day DL (7/28)
06/21/16 CF Mike Mahtook Hand 15-day DL (6/21)
06/21/16 3B Matt Duffy Achilles 15-day DL (6/19)
04/10/16 P Chase Whitley Elbow 60-day DL (3/25)
04/01/16 P Alex Cobb Elbow 60-day DL (3/25)

Josh's Pick: Take the Rays

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