Kansas City Royals (32-46, fifth in the AL Central) vs. Tampa Bay Rays (43-31, second in the AL East)St. Petersburg, Florida; Monday, 6:40 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Royals: Michael Wacha (4-5, 3.64 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 72 strikeouts); Rays: Drew Rasmussen (6-3, 2.59 ERA, 0.88 WHIP, 84 strikeouts)LINE: Rays -190, Royals +154; over/under is 7 1/2 runsBOTTOM LINE: The Tampa Bay Rays host the Kansas City Royals on Monday to start a four-game series.Tampa Bay has a 43-31 record overall and a 26-10 record in home games. The Rays have the best team on-base percentage in the AL at .334.Kansas City has a 13-24 record on the road and a 32-46 record overall. The Royals have a 7-13 record in games decided by one run.The teams meet Monday for the first time this season.TOP PERFORMERS: Yandy Diaz leads the Rays with a .326 batting average, and has 12 doubles, a triple, 12 home runs, 30 walks and 49 RBIs. Jonathan Aranda is 12 for 39 with a home run and six RBIs over the past 10 games.
Bobby Witt Jr. leads the Royals with a .294 batting average, and has 19 doubles, a triple, 10 home runs, 35 walks and 32 RBIs. Carter Jensen is 16 for 41 with two home runs and eight RBIs over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Rays: 4-6, .257 batting average, 4.02 ERA, outscored by two runsRoyals: 4-6, .306 batting average, 5.93 ERA, outscored opponents by four runsINJURIES: Rays: Jesse Scholtens: 15-Day IL (wrist), Gavin Lux: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Steven Wilson: 60-Day IL (back), Manuel Rodriguez: 60-Day IL (elbow), Jon Heasley: 60-Day IL (elbow), Jake Fraley: 10-Day IL (groin), Ryan Pepiot: 60-Day IL (hip), Edwin Uceta: 60-Day IL (shoulder)
