Royals vs. Rays (August 19): Will Sunshine State stars shine in St. Pete?

Kansas City Royals pitcher Brady Singer has been one of the brightest spots of one of MLB’s worst teams this season. Tonight, he will look to continue an impressive recent stretch in his home state as he and the Royals continue their series with Shane McClanahan and the Tampa Bay Rays.

After succumbing to a walk-off grand slam at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday night, the Rays had to jet home and face a quick turnaround for last night’s series opener against the Royals.

But they navigated the disappointment and lack of rest just fine, with a five-run seventh inning keying a 7-1 win.

That win helped them keep pace with the Toronto Blue Jays for second in the AL East, and they remained locked into an AL wild-card spot along with the Blue Jays and Seattle Mariners.

Tonight, Tampa Bay will turn to their ace and AL Cy Young Award candidate as they look to pick up a sixth win in seven games. But Kansas City’s lineup won’t be the only one facing a challenge.

Kansas City Royals vs. Tampa Bay Rays Matchup Information and Betting Odds

Matchup Information

• Matchup: Kansas City Royals (48-72, 19-38 away, 4th in the AL Central) vs. Tampa Bay Rays (63-54, 36-22 home, tied for 2nd in the AL East)
• Venue & Location: Tropicana Field (St. Petersburg, Florida)
• Date: Friday, August 19, 2022
• Game Time: 7:10 p.m. Eastern Time

Royals vs. Rays Pitching Matchup

• Kansas City Royals: Brady Singer (2022: 19 appearances – 16 starts, 6-4, 3.29 ERA)
• Tampa Bay Rays: Shane McClanahan (2022: 22 starts, 11-5, 2.28 ERA)

Royals vs. Rays Odds

Game odds are via BetOnline. Odds from other top legal sportsbooks may also be included in this article.

Moneyline

• Kansas City Royals +168
• Tampa Bay Rays -200

Over/Under

• Over 6.5 (-106)
• Under 6.5 (-114)

Run Line

• Kansas City Royals +1.5 (-134)
• Tampa Bay Rays -1.5 (+112)

Duo of 2018 First-Round Picks on Show Tonight in St. Pete

Tonight’s starting pitchers were both drafted in the first round of the 2018 MLB Draft.

Singer, who starred at the University of Florida, was taken by the Royals 18th overall. McClanahan, who pitched for the University of South Florida, was snapped up by the hometown Rays with the 31st pick.

After an impressive rookie season last year, McClanahan has been one of the top pitchers in the league this season. His AL Cy Young Award hopes have faded in recent weeks, but he still ranks fifth in ERA (2.28), tied for sixth in strikeouts (165), second in WHIP (0.87), and third in OBA (.195).

After going winless in his first three starts after the All-Star break, McClanahan got back into the win column last Saturday against the Baltimore Orioles. In the Rays’ 8-2 win, he allowed two runs, seven hits, and three walks and struck out four in six innings.

2022 Season Splits for Shane McClanahan

• Home (14 starts): 9-3, 2.37 ERA, 83.2 IP, 64 H, 23 R (22 ER), 17 BB, 105 K
• Away (8 starts): 2-2, 2.13 ERA, 50.2 IP, 27 H, 16 R (12 ER), 9 BB, 60 K
• Day (12 starts): 6-2, 2.19 ERA, 61.2 IP, 47 H, 16 R (15 ER), 13 BB, 80 K
• Night (10 starts): 5-3, 2.35 ERA, 72.2 IP, 44 H, 23 R (19 ER), 13 BB, 85 K

Singer was 9-15 in 39 starts in his first two MLB seasons, but his form over the last month and a half has positioned him for his first winning season.

In his last eight starts, Singer is 3-1 with a 2.16 ERA. Across 50 innings, he has allowed 40 hits, 13 runs (12 earned), and 15 walks and struck out 58. In those eight starts, the Royals have amassed a 6-2 record.

Last Sunday, he allowed one hit and three walks and struck out seven in six shutout innings against the Los Angeles Dodgers, earning the win in a 4-0 victory that broke the Dodgers’ 12-game win streak.

Singer had a great outing last month against the Rays last month in Kansas City. In a 6-3 Royals win on July 23, he struck out a career-high 12 and allowed three hits, two runs (one earned) and two walks in six innings.

Kansas City Royals vs. Tampa Bay Rays Prediction and Picks

Royals vs. Rays Prediction: Rays to win

Royals vs. Rays Picks: Rays -1.5 (Best Value: +115 at Bovada Sportsbook & BetUS) & Royals/Rays under 6.5 (Best Value: -110 at BetMGM)

The Rays are 34-28 (.548) following a win this season, which is tenth in MLB and fifth in the AL.

And they are one of the better home teams in the league, ranking third in the AL and seventh overall in MLB with a .621 win percentage at home this season.

Of their home wins this season, 22 (61.1 percent) have come by 2+ runs, including five of their last six home wins.

I like the value with going that route in tonight’s matchup, even with Singer fresh off of impressive wins over the White Sox and Dodgers. The Rays are 10-4 in McClanahan’s home starts this season, and eight of the ten wins have come by 2+ runs.

Also, of the Royals’ 72 losses this season, 61 (84.7 percent) of their losses this season have been by 2+ runs, with that percentage increasing to 87.5 in the second half (14 of 16 losses).

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