Tampa Bay will try to be nasty hosts on Friday when the Kansas City Royals pay a visit to Tropicana Field.

Tampa Bay hands the ball to starter Matt Moore in this one and he'll try to improve on his 8-2 mark on the year. Kansas City counters with Luis Mendoza, who will try to quiet the fans and the Rays bats at the same time.



View Kansas City vs Tampa Bay Odds and Stats.

Betting Line:
The moneyline was hovering in the range of -192 for the Rays in this one over at Sportsbook. The over under number was sitting near 7.5 at Sportsbook.

Power Rankings:
This game puts the Rays, most recently No. 4 in the American League Odds Shark MLB Power Rankings, up against the Royals, who rate an American League No. 3 in the latest survey.



How They Match Up:
Offensively, the game matches up Tampa Bay's No. 4 ranked American League offense (4.9 runs per game) against a Royals defense and pitching staff that sits at No. 1 in the American League at 3.7 runs allowed per game. The Rays have been averaging 8.8 hits per game, almost the same as the Royals have managed so far this season (8.8 hits on average).

Defensively, Kansas City features the American League's No. 3-rated defense on the road, allowing 3.7 runs per game. Tampa Bay, meanwhile, comes in at No. 3 in the American League at home, scoring 5.1 runs per game.

Last time out for Kansas City, they were a 10-1 Sportsbook as they battled the Rays on the road. Moneyline bettors who got the Royals at +135 were rewarded, while the 11 combined runs moved the game OVER for totals bettors. The Royals enjoyed a 10-1 victory at the expense of the Rays on Thursday, with Ervin Santana throwing 7 2/3 innings of 5-hit ball at Tropicana Field.




Kansas City Royals Trends:
When playing on Friday are 6-4
Before playing Tampa Bay are 6-4
After playing Tampa Bay are 7-3
After a win are 6-4

Tampa Bay Rays Trends:
When playing on Friday are 5-5
Before playing Kansas City are 5-5
After playing Kansas City are 5-5
After a loss are 6-4

A few Royals at Rays trends to consider:
Kansas City is 8-1 SU in its last 9 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Kansas City's last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Kansas City's last 5 games on the road
Kansas City is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing Tampa Bay
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Tampa Bay's last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Tampa Bay's last 5 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Tampa Bay's last 5 games when playing Kansas City
Tampa Bay is 7-2 SU in its last 9 games when playing at home against Kansas City


Next up:
Kansas City at Tampa Bay, Saturday, June 15