KC Royals Look For Success In St. Pete

Injuries continue to plague the KC Royals who’ll be without Wade Davis for the next few weeks, so he won’t be available against Tampa Bay this week. The Kansas City Royals have struggled away from home but will look to rebound at the Trop over these next three games.

The Rays have struggled this season, but over the past week have given the Dodgers plus Yankees troubles this past week.

Probable Pitching Match-Ups
Monday, 6:10 pm – Danny Duffy/LHP (6-1, 3.22) v. Chris Archer/RHP (5-14, 4.42)
Tuesday, 6:10 pm – Yordano Ventura/RHP (6-9, 4.88) v. Matt Moore/LHP (7-7, 4.08)
Wednesday, 6:10 pm – Edinson Volquez/RHP (8-9, 4.70) v. Jake Odorizzi/RHP (5-5, 3.88)
Thursday, 11:10 am – Ian Kennedy/RHP (6-9, 4.23) v. Drew Smyly/LHP (3-11, 5.29)

Comments on Pitching Match-Ups – Interesting to see three probable left handed pitchers will be throwing, but other than that you see the struggles of both teams starters. It’ll be interesting to see which staff can held down the other given how inconsistent each have been.

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Game 1: Duffy continues to be their most consistent starter they trot out each five days, not bad for a guy who started in the bullpen. Whether Archer is still a Ray by the 3 pm trade deadline remains to be seen.

Game 2: Ventura is the king of inconsistency as he’s looked great at times and awful other times which none of this is new. Moore has been one of his teams best starters but is plagued by run support.

Game 3: Volquez should fair well in this match-up agains an offense that has seen its fair share of struggles. Former KC Royals farmhand Odorizzi could be like Archer and not availble to make this start as his name continues to be mentioned in potential deals.

Game 4: Kennedy threw well this weekend in Arlington but couldn’t get more than a run of support from his offense. Smyly has had a rough 2016 in nearly every aspect of this season

Series Outlook – The Kansas City Royals come in struggling while the Rays have been on an impressive run currently given their season of struggles. Evan Longoria is still in St. Pete and locking down third base while being their best hitter. Brad Miller has been on a tear during this recent winning streak TB has enjoyed. Kelvin Herrera seems to be the closer while Davis is away for Ned Yost, Joakim Soria holds down the eighth but outside of that who knows if a lead is had. Lorenzo Cain came back this weekend which next is hopefully his offense.

Prediction – KC Royals split series with Rays 2-2

2016 Meetings
It was a KC Royals sweep back in late May, winning 6-2, 10-5 and 6-3. Davis saved the last two games. After the sweep KC was 30-22 and led the division by two games.

Franchise History
All-time these two are deadlocked at 71 wins apiece, the Kansas City Royals are 30-44 at Tropicana Field which has been a little catwalk of horrors for them.

TV/Radio Coverage
FOX Sports Kansas City will broadcast all four games from Houston with Ryan Lefebvre and Rex Hudler. Joel Goldberg and KC Royals Hall of Famer Jeff Montgomery host Royals Live before and after the games.

On the KC Royals Radio Network (610 Sports in KC) will be Steve Physioc and Steve Stewart.

Game Notes:
Tampa Bay Rays
Kansas City Royals

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