Rays vs. Royals Prediction, Computer Picks, Odds & Pitching Matchup 8/19/2022

Entering Friday’s matchup with the Tampa Bay Rays (63-54), the Kansas City Royals (48-72) are on a four-game losing streak. The contest starts at 7:10 PM ET with the Rays listed as -207 favorites, while the are +173 underdogs who may be heading for a fifth straight defeat. Shane McClanahan will get the ball for Tampa Bay while Kansas City counter with Brady Singer.

Rays vs. Royals Spread and Betting Line

Computer Predictions for Rays vs. Royals

We have the Royals on the moneyline at +173 on the moneyline as our best bet in this contest after taking a look at all of the key trends and statistics for this matchup. Our computer picks see the scoring going over the total of 6.5 runs.

Our computer pick: Kansas City Royals (+173) and Over (6.5)

Rays vs. Royals Game Info

• Tampa Bay Rays probable starting pitcher: Shane McClanahan
• Kansas City Royals probable starting pitcher: Brady Singer
• Game Day: Friday, August 19, 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 Shane McClanahan

• The Rays will send McClanahan (11-5) out to make his 23rd start of the season. He is 11-5 with a 2.28 ERA and 165 strikeouts in 134 1/3 innings pitched.
• The lefty’s last time out was on Saturday against the Baltimore Orioles, when he threw six innings, surrendering two earned runs while giving up seven hits.
• In 22 games this season, the 25-year-old has put up a 2.28 ERA and 11.1 strikeouts per nine innings, while giving up a batting average of .189 to his opponents.
• McClanahan has 16 quality starts this season.
• McClanahan will aim to go five or more innings for his third straight start. He’s averaging 6.0 frames per outing.
• The opposing Royals offense has a collective .245 batting average, and is 13th in the league with 988 total hits and 24th in MLB play with 460 runs scored. It has the 22nd-ranked slugging percentage (.380) and ranks 27th in home runs (101) in all of MLB.
• The 25-year-old ranks fifth in ERA (2.28), second in WHIP (.871), and fifth in K/9 (11.1) among qualifying pitchers in MLB action this season.

Royals Starter Brady Singer

• The Royals’ Singer (6-4) will make his 17th start of the season.
• The right-hander last pitched on Sunday, when he allowed one hit in six scoreless innings against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
• The 26-year-old has an ERA of 3.29 and 9.3 strikeouts per nine innings with an opponent batting average of .239 in 19 games this season.
• If he completes six or more innings with three or fewer earned runs allowed, he’ll earn his third quality start in a row.
• Singer has seven starts in a row of five innings or more.
• The Rays rank 20th in MLB with a .238 batting average this season. They have a team slugging percentage that ranks 24th in the league (.378) and 106 home runs.
• The Rays have gone 3-for-21 with an RBI in six innings this season against the right-hander.

Rays Betting Picks & Insights

• This season, the Rays have won 46 out of the 78 games, or 59%, in which they’ve been favored.
• This season, Tampa Bay has won four of its nine games, or 44.4%, when favored by at least -207 on the moneyline.
• Oddsmakers have implied with the moneyline set for this matchup that the Rays have a 67.4% chance to win.
• Tampa Bay’s games have gone over the total in 55 of their 117 chances.
• The Rays are 56-61-0 against the spread this season.

Royals Betting Picks & Insights

• The Royals have been victorious in 39, or 38.6%, of the 101 contests they have been chosen as underdogs in this season.
• This year, Kansas City has won five of 23 games when listed as at least +173 or worse on the moneyline.
• The moneyline set for this matchup implies the Royals have a 36.6% chance of coming away with a victory in the contest.
• Kansas City and their opponents have gone over in 59 of their 123 games with a total set by sportsbooks this season.
• The Royals are 57-66-0 against the spread in their 123 games with a line set by sportsbooks this season.

Rays Leaders & Batting Stats

• Yandy Diaz paces the Rays with a team-best batting average of .276.
• Among all hitters in baseball, Diaz’s home run total ranks him 191st, and his RBI tally puts him 112th.
• Diaz brings a hitting streak of four games into this game. During his last five outings he is batting .318 with four doubles, a home run, a walk and eight RBI.
• Randy Arozarena has put his power on display as he leads his team with 16 home runs and 62 runs batted in.
• Arozarena is 53rd in home runs and 32nd in RBI on the season.
• David Peralta is hitting .248 with 21 doubles, three triples, 12 home runs and 29 walks.
• Harold Ramirez has 16 doubles, five home runs and 16 walks while hitting .325.
• Ramirez brings a two-game streak with at least one hit into this one. In his last five games he is hitting .313 with a double, a home run and an RBI.

Royals Leaders & Batting Stats

• The Royals are lead in runs batted in by Bobby Witt Jr. with a mark of 57, he also leads the team in hitting, posting an average of .249.
• Witt Jr.’s home run total places him 65th in the big leagues, and he is 50th in RBI.
• Hunter Dozier is hitting .241 with 21 doubles, three triples, 10 home runs and 30 walks.
• Dozier is currently 139th in homers and 176th in RBI in the big leagues.
• MJ Melendez is batting .223 with 14 doubles, two triples, 14 home runs and 43 walks.
• Salvador Perez has launched a team-best 17 home runs.