Rays vs. Royals Prediction, Computer Picks, Odds & Pitching Matchup 8/18/2022

Entering Thursday’s matchup with the Tampa Bay Rays (62-54), the Kansas City Royals (48-71) are on a three-game losing streak. The contest starts at 7:10 PM ET with the Rays listed as -213 favorites, while the are +178 underdogs who may be heading for a fourth straight defeat. Luis Patino will get the ball for Tampa Bay while Kansas City counter with Brad Keller.

Rays vs. Royals Spread and Betting Line

Computer Predictions for Rays vs. Royals

We have the Royals on the moneyline at +178 on the moneyline as our best bet in this contest after analyzing all of the key statistics and trends for this matchup. Our computer picks see the scoring going over the total of 7.5 runs.

Our computer pick: Kansas City Royals (+178) and Over (7.5)

Rays vs. Royals Game Info

• Tampa Bay Rays probable starting pitcher: Luis Patiño
• Kansas City Royals probable starting pitcher: Brad Keller
• Game Day: Thursday, August 18, 2022
• Game Time: 7:10 PM ET
• Location: St. Petersburg, Florida
• Stadium: Tropicana Field

Tampa Bay Rays vs Kansas City Royals Pitching Matchup

Rays Starter Luis Patiño

• Patino gets the start for the Rays, his fourth of the season. He is 0-1 with a 6.75 ERA and three strikeouts in eight innings pitched.
• The right-hander last appeared on Saturday, July 23 against the Kansas City Royals, when he went four innings, allowing three earned runs while giving up seven hits.
• The 22-year-old has put up an ERA of 6.75, with 3.4 strikeouts per nine innings, in three games this season. Opponents are hitting .353 against him.
• The opposing Royals offense has the 22nd-ranked slugging percentage (.380) and is 27th in MLB play with 100 home runs. It has a collective .246 batting average, and is 14th in MLB with 982 total hits and 24th in MLB action scoring 459 runs.
• Head-to-head against the Royals this season, Patiño has pitched four innings, giving up three earned runs on seven hits while striking out three.

Royals Starter Brad Keller

• The Royals will hand the ball to Keller (6-13) for his 23rd start of the season.
• The right-hander gave up eight earned runs and allowed nine hits in three innings pitched against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday.
• The 27-year-old has an ERA of 4.93 and 6.1 strikeouts per nine innings with an opponent batting average of .268 in 22 games this season.
• He has earned a quality start 11 times in 22 starts this season.
• In 22 starts, Keller has pitched through or past the fifth inning 16 times. He has a season average of 5.2 frames per outing.
• The Rays rank 20th in MLB with a .237 batting average this season. They have a team slugging percentage that ranks 24th in the league (.376) and 104 home runs.
• This season, the right-hander has pitched against the Rays in one game, and they have gone 4-for-15 with a double and four RBI over four innings.
• Among qualified Major League pitchers this season, the 27-year-old’s 4.93 ERA ranks 55th, 1.431 WHIP ranks 56th, and 6.1 K/9 ranks 54th.

Rays Betting Picks & Insights

• The Rays have won 45, or 58.4%, of the 77 games they’ve played as favorites this season.
• Tampa Bay is 3-4 this season when entering a game favored by -213 or more on the moneyline.
• The moneyline for this contest implies a 68.1% chance of a victory for the Rays.
• Games involving Tampa Bay have gone over the total set by bookmakers in 54 of 116 chances this season.
• In 116 games with a spread this season, the Rays are 55-61-0 ATS.

Royals Betting Picks & Insights

• The Royals have won in 39, or 39%, of the 100 contests they have been named as odds-on underdogs in this year.
• This season, Kansas City has come away with a win four times in 20 chances when named as an underdog of at least +178 or longer on the moneyline.
• Bookmakers have implied with the moneyline set for this matchup that the Royals have a 36% chance of pulling out a win.
• Kansas City and their opponents have gone over in 58 of their 122 games with a total set by sportsbooks this season.
• The Royals have an against the spread record of 57-65-0 in 122 games with a line this season.

Rays Leaders & Batting Stats

• Yandy Diaz paces the Rays with a .273 batting average.
• Including all MLB hitters, Diaz is 41st in batting average, eighth in on-base percentage, and 109th in slugging.
• Diaz has collected a hit in three games in a row. During his last five outings he is hitting .261 with three doubles, a walk and five RBI.
• Randy Arozarena has hit 16 home runs with 61 runs batted in. Both lead his team.
• Including all major league hitters, Arozarena ranks 51st in home runs and 32nd in RBI.
• David Peralta has 21 doubles, three triples, 12 home runs and 29 walks while batting .252.
• Peralta is on a three-game hitting streak entering this contest. In his last five games he is hitting .263 with a triple, two walks and two RBI.
• Harold Ramirez is batting .325 with 16 doubles, five home runs and 16 walks.
• Ramirez has recorded at least one hit in two straight games. In his last five games he is batting .313 with a double, a home run and an RBI.

Royals Leaders & Batting Stats

• Bobby Witt Jr. leads the Royals with 57 runs batted in while racking up a team-high batting average of .251.
• Among all hitters in the majors, Witt Jr.’s home run total is 65th and his RBI tally is 48th.
• Witt Jr. brings a hitting streak of two games into this game. During his last five outings he is hitting .200 with .
• MJ Melendez has 14 doubles, two triples, 14 home runs and 43 walks while batting .223.
• Melendez ranks 77th in home runs and 132nd in RBI among all MLB batters this season.
• Salvador Perez has 17 home runs, tops in the clubhouse.
• Nicky Lopez has 11 doubles, two triples and 23 walks while batting .247.