Thursday, August 4, 2016

Tropicana Field

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

Probable Pitchers: Ian Kennedy vs. Drew Smyly

The Kansas City Royals visit Tropicana Field on Thursday to play the Tampa Bay Rays. The probable starters are Ian Kennedy for the Royals and Drew Smyly for the Rays. The opening line for this matchup has Kansas City at +128 and Tampa Bay at -138. The over/under was set at 7.5. The Royals have a 46-55-5 over/under record and a 55-51-0 run line mark, meaning they cover 52% of the time. The Rays are 45-60-0 against the run line and have a 43-55-7 over/under record. They cover the spread 43% of the time.

The Royals head into this matchup with a 51-55 record, including 19-36 on the road. Starting pitcher Ian Kennedy has a 6-9 record with an earned run average of 4.23 and a WHIP of 1.21. He has 123 strikeouts over his 121.1 innings pitched and he has given up 108 hits so far this season. He has allowed 8 hits per 9 innings and he has a FIP of 5.1. The bullpen this year has an earned run average of 3.39 and they have given up 327 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .244 against the bullpen while being struck out 333 times and walking 121 times this season. As a team, Kansas City has allowed 8.77 hits per nine innings while striking out 8.27 batters per nine. They are 18th in the league in team earned run average at 4.31. The Royals pitchers have collectively given up 908 base hits and 446 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 335 batters and struck out 856. They walk 3.2 men per 9 innings while striking out 8.3 per 9. They have a team WHIP of 1.34 and their FIP as a unit is 4.49.

As a team, Kansas City is batting .265, good for 6th in the league while putting together a .249 average away from home. The Royals hold a .398 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .314 which is good for 21st in baseball. They rank 9th in baseball with 9 hits per game. Eric Hosmer comes into this game hitting .279 and his on-base percentage is at .337. He has 112 hits this season along with 53 runs scored and 59 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 111 hits so far while scoring 35 runs and he's driven in 27. He has walked 17 times and has struck out 62 times. The Royals have 953 hits, including 177 doubles and 91 home runs. They've stolen 64 bases while they've been thrown out stealing 20 times. Kansas City has walked 242 times this season and they've struck out 773 times as a unit. They've left 694 men on base and have a team OPS of .711. They score 3.87 runs per contest and have scored a total of 410 runs so far this year.

Tampa Bay comes into this matchup with a 22-32 home record and a 42-63 overall mark. With an earned run average of 5.29, Drew Smyly has a 3-11 record and a 1.32 WHIP. He has 118 strikeouts over the 117.1 innings he's pitched during which he has given up 124 hits. He has allowed 9.5 hits per nine innings and his FIP stands at 4.4. So far this season the bullpen has an earned run average of 4.50 and they have given up 320 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .265 against the Rays bullpen while being struck out 275 times and walking 106 times this season. As a team, Tampa Bay has allowed 8.88 hits per nine innings while striking out 8.44 batters per nine. They are 16th in the league in team earned run average at 4.24. The Rays pitchers as a team have surrendered 914 base knocks and 437 earned runs so far this season. They have given up 132 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 869. They give up a walk 2.9 times per 9 innings while they strike out 8.4 per 9. Their team WHIP is 1.31 while their FIP as a staff is 4.16.

As a team, they are batting .238, good for 30th in the league while putting together a .227 average at home. The Rays hold a .415 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .305 which is good for 26th in baseball. They rank 29th in baseball with 8 hits per contest. Logan Forsythe comes into this matchup batting .272 and he has an OBP of .332. He has 84 hits this year along with 44 runs scored and 29 RBI. He's struck out 72 times and has walked on 23 occasions. Evan Longoria is hitting .281 and he has an OBP of .331. He has collected 115 hits so far while he's scored 53 runs and drove in 58. He has earned a walk 31 times and has punched out 99 times. The Rays as a unit have 840 base hits, including 179 doubles and 134 homers. They have 37 stolen bases while they've been thrown out 24 times. Tampa Bay as a team has walked 308 times this year and they have struck out 954 times. They've had 696 men left on base and have an OPS of .720. They score 3.93 runs per game and have totaled 413 runs so far this season.

Kansas City Royals Betting Trends

The Kansas City Royals are 46-55-5 against the over/under so far this season

The Kansas City Royals are 55-51-0 against the run line so far this season

Tampa Bay Rays Betting Trends

The Tampa Bay Rays are 43-55-7 against the over/under so far this season

The Tampa Bay Rays are 45-60-0 against the run line so far this season

Injuries to Watch

Kansas City Royals

07/31/16 P Wade Davis Hip 15-day DL (7/30)
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)

Tony's Pick: Take the Royals

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