Tampa Bay Rays vs Kansas City Royals Prediction, Preview and Odds - 07/03/2024

Game Time: 8:10 pm ET, Wednesday, July 3, 2024

Venue:  Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City, MO 

Where to Watch:  BSKC

DraftKings:  Moneyline odds:  Rays -110, Royals -110; Over/Under:  9 runs

Bet365:  Moneyline odds:  Rays -110, Royals -110; Over/Under:  9 runs

BetMGM:  Moneyline odds:  Rays -110, Royals -110; Over/Under:  9 runs

Tampa Bay Rays:  42-42 (4th place, AL East)

Kansas City Royals:  47-39 (3rd place, AL Central)

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Tampa Bay Rays:  7-3 last 10

Kansas City Royals:  5-5 last 10

The Rays are entering this series off a win and won their 3-game series against the Washington Nationals 2-1 in their last series. They enter this game with a 42-42 record overall and have a road record of 19-17. This is the 2nd game of a 3-game series with the Royals on Wednesday with the series opener of this series still to be played on Tuesday. Their offense ranks 23rd in the MLB with a .678 OPS. Zack Littell is their starting pitcher on Tuesday while Ryan Pepiot is making his start in this game on Wednesday. He is 4-4 with a 4.40 ERA this season. His team lost 3 of their last 4 games this season with him making an appearance. In his last MLB regular season start, he allowed 1 ER, 0 HR, and 2 BB with 8 Ks on 1 hit through 5.1 IP against the Seattle Mariners.

The Royals are entering this series off a win and won their 4-game series against the Cleveland Guardians 3-1 in their last series. They enter this game with a 47-39 record overall and have a home record of 30-16. This is the 2nd game of a 3-game series with the Rays on Wednesday with the 1st game of this series still to be played on Tuesday. Their offense ranks 13th in the MLB with a .710 OPS. Brady Singer is their starting pitcher on Tuesday while Michael Wacha is making his start in this game on Tuesday. He is 4-6 with a 3.91 ERA this season. His team lost 3 of their last 4 games this season with him making an appearance. In his last MLB regular season start, he allowed 1 earned runs, 0 homers, and 2 BB with 6 strikeouts on 7 hits through 5.1 innings played against the Cleveland Guardians.

The current betting odds have the Royals listed as a pick 'em in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. The Royals have looked good in their games this season with their 47-39 record overall, but that record only has them in 3rd place of the AL Central. They are fighting for a Wild Card spot in the AL at the moment and they have looked a lot better in their home games this year with their 30-16 home record. Meanwhile, the Rays haven't looked good in their games this season with their 42-42 record overall which has them near the bottom of the AL East. They are also 19-17 in their road games this season. The Rays have been really hot lately with their 7-3 record in their last 10 games, but their offense has been producing less runs lately and they really haven't had a great offense this season. They have Pepiot on the mound and he is 4-4 with a 4.40 ERA, but the team hasn't had a lot of success with him starting. He has been improving lately, only giving up 1 earned run in his last start, but the team has lost 3 of their last 4 games with him starting and their offense won't produce the runs to help him out either. The Royals will have Wacha on the mound and he is 4-6 with a 3.91 ERA this season. The team has also been struggling with him on the mound since they have lost 3 of their last 4 games with him starting, but he has also been pitching better lately. He only gave up 1 earned run in his last start and the Royals have the much better offense to help him out with some run support in this game, and they have looked a lot better in their home games too. The best way to place a bet here is on the Royals to win this game. 

Rays Royals Prediction:  Our MLB Pick for Wednesday, July 3, 2024 (8:10 pm ET start time) is Royals 6 Rays 4.

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Tampa Bay Rays: 20-48 (-24.10 units) on the first 5 moneyline in their last 68 games. 43-33 to the under with their team total in their last 76 games. 54-28 to the under with their team total in their last 82 games. 

Kansas City Royals: 30-15 (+13.65 units) on the moneyline in their last 45 home games. 28-17 (+10.24 units) on the runline in their last 45 home games. 13-5 to the under in their last 18 games. 

Tampa Bay Rays:  B. Lowe (2B) - Toe. R. Lovelady (RP) - Forearm. J. Waguespack (RP) - Shoulder. J. Springs (SP) - Elbow. D. Rasmussen (SP) - Elbow. S. McClanahan (SP) - Forearm.

Kansas City Royals:  A. Frazier (2B) - Thumb. D. Altavilla (RP) - Oblique. J. Taylor (RP) - Bicep. K. Bubic (SP) - Elbow. K. Wright (SP) - Shoulder.

“Every day in BP, every time I hit a ball down the line and I always tell (manager Kevin Cash) and the coaches that’s going to be a triple and they never believed me.” - Isaac Paredes after their win against the Nationals in their game on Sunday.

“We need to do that kind of offense regularly against every type of team. To get the early lead was nice and the two in the middle innings was nice, but the Perez home run was huge to expand the lead there." - Matt Quatraro after his team’s win against the Guardians in their game on Sunday.

Y Díaz (R) DH

R Arozarena (R) LF

A Rosario (R) 3B

I Paredes (R) 1B

J Siri (R) CF

J DeLuca (R) RF

J Caballero (R) 2B

T Walls (S) SS

A Jackson (R) C

M Garcia (R) 2B

B Witt Jr. (R) SS

V Pasquantino (L) DH

S Perez (R) 1B

H Renfroe (R) RF

N Loftin (R) 3B

F Fermin (R) C

G Hampson (R) CF

D Blanco (R) LF

Batting Average:  Amed Rosario (.291)

Hits:  Yandy Díaz (91)

Home Runs:  Isaac Paredes (13)

RBI:  Isaac Paredes (43)

Stolen Bases:  José Caballero (24)

Wins:  Garrett Cleavinger (5)

Saves:  Pete Fairbanks (13)

ERA:  Edwin Uceta (0.00)

Batting Average:  Bobby Witt (.312)

Hits:  Bobby Witt (107)

Home Runs:  Salvador Perez (14)

RBI:  Vinnie Pasquantino (55)

Stolen Bases:  Bobby Witt (22)

Wins:  Seth Lugo (11)

Saves:  James McArthur (14)

ERA:  Jordan Lyles (0.00)

Managers:

Tampa Bay Rays: Kevin Cash (10th season)

Kansas City Royals: Matt Quatraro (2nd season)