Series Preview: Tampa Bay Rays (4-3) at Kansas City Royals (2-3)

Tonight the AL East leading Tampa Bay Rays (4-3) roll into Kauffman Stadium for a three game series against the Kansas City Royals (2-3). This series between the two clubs will always have a magnifying glass on it given the trade of last offseason.

will face

as the Royals homestand continues against the Rays. Photo Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Probable Pitching Match-ups:
Monday, 7:10 pm – Matt Moore/LHP (0-1, 3.18) v. Jason Vargas/LHP (0-0, 1.29)
Tuesday, 7:10 pm – Chris Archer/RHP (1-0, 3.00) v. Yordano Ventura/RHP (0-0, 0.00)
Wednesday, 1:10 pm – Jake Odorizzi/RHP (1-0, 0.00) v. Jeremy Guthrie/RHP (1-0, 6.35)

Comments on Pitching Match-ups – Tampa Bay has more pitching than any other club top to bottom it seems which will be evident during this series. The Rays will throw Moore, Archer and Odorizzi which means KC sees one lefty and two righties but three good young pitchers in addition to one of their own in the series finale. Kansas City counters with Vargas who was excellent in his debut, fans will finally get to see Ventura at the K and Guthrie gets his second home start.

2013 Meetings:
KC won six of the seven meetings in 2013 with three games in Kansas City and four at the Trop in St. Pete. Fans will no doubt remember the “two game” sweep April 30-May 2 where the Royals won 8-2 (behind James Shields) and 9-8 with the finale being called before the game could be made official due to it snowing. The boys in blue took three of four when they traveled June 13-16 to St. Petersburg winning 10-1, 7-2 and 5-3 while losing game three 5-3. August 26 the teams met for the makeup where Gurthrie and KC won 11-1.

Franchise History:
TB leads the all-time series 68-58 with KC winning 10 of the last 13 meetings between the teams. In addition the Royals have won the last six against the Rays at Kauffman Stadium and eight of the last nine over the past three seasons.

TV/Radio Coverage:
All three games are on Fox Sports Kansas City with Ryan Lefebvre and Rex Hudler on the broadcast. Joel Goldberg and Royals Hall of Famer Jeff Montgomery host Royals Live before and after the game. As always every game can be heard on the Royals Radio Network (610 Sports Radio in KC) Royals Hall of Famer/2007 Ford C. Frick Award winner Denny Matthews being joined in the booth by Steve Physioc and Steve Stewart.

2014 Series Schedule/Results v. Rays:
April 7-9, Kauffman Stadium
July 7-9, Tropicana Field

Game Notes:
Tampa Bay Rays
Kansas City Royals