The Kansas City Royals host Tampa Bay on Monday, looking to build on their 31-39 mark against the 40-32 Rays in MLB betting action at Kauffman Stadium.

Alex Cobb, with a record of 3-3 on the season, gets the ball for the Rays, while the Royals trot Luke Hochevar to the mound in this one. He is 4-7 so far in 2012.



View Tampa Bay vs Kansas City Odds and Stats.

Betting Line:
Bettors looking to side with the Royals in this one will find them as +110 underdogs on the MLB money line. Betting the over under instead? It was hovering near 8.5 at its open earlier today.

Power Rankings:
The MLB Power Rankings at Odds Shark show the American League's No. 3-rated Rays taking on the American League's No. 6-rated Royals in this contest.



How They Match Up:
Rating these teams in several key categories is important for handicappers and Kansas City has the American League's No. 13-rated offensive output, at 9.1 hits per game. The Rays average 7.7 hits per game, good for No. 13 on the American League list.

Tampa Bay brings the American League's No. 5-rated defense to this matchup, facing the Royals' league No. 11-ranked defense.

Tampa Bay won its last outing, a 7-3 result against the Phillies on June 24. Bettors who backed the Rays at +165 on the moneyline won on the day, and the total score (10) sent OVER bettors to the payout window. Tampa Bay got the job done in their last match in a 7-3 victory over Philadelphia on Sunday at Citizens Bank Park behind starter Cesar Ramos.

In their last action, Kansas City was a 11-8 loser at home against the Cardinals. Bettors on St. Louis at -148 on the moneyline collected their winnings from that game, while the total score (19) sent OVER bettors home happy as well. Kansas City looks to rebound from a loss to the Cardinals, who beat them 11-8 on Sunday behind a start from Lance Lynn at Kauffman Stadium.


Tampa Bay Rays Trends:
When playing on Monday are 6-4
Before playing Kansas City are 5-5
After playing Philadelphia are 7-3
After a win are 5-5

Kansas City Royals Trends:
When playing on Monday are 6-4
Before playing Tampa Bay are 6-4
After playing St. Louis are 1-9
After a loss are 5-5

A few Rays at Royals trends to consider:
Tampa Bay is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing Kansas City
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Tampa Bay's last 5 games when playing Kansas City
The total has gone UNDER in 11 of Tampa Bay's last 14 games when playing on the road against Kansas City
Tampa Bay is 7-3 SU in its last 10 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Kansas City's last 5 games when playing Tampa Bay
The total has gone UNDER in 11 of Kansas City's last 14 games when playing at home against Tampa Bay
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Kansas City's last 6 games
Kansas City is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games


Next up:
Tampa Bay at Kansas City, Tuesday, June 26