Royals and Rays meet, winner claims 3-game series

Updated Jul. 4, 2024 4:00 a.m. ET

Associated Press

Tampa Bay Rays (43-43, fourth in the AL East) vs. Kansas City Royals (48-40, third in the AL Central)

Kansas City, Missouri; Thursday, 8:10 p.m. EDT

PITCHING PROBABLES: Rays: Zach Eflin (4-5, 3.92 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, 69 strikeouts); Royals: Alec Marsh (6-5, 4.19 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 74 strikeouts)

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK: LINE Rays -132, Royals +111; over/under is 8 1/2 runs

BOTTOM LINE: The Kansas City Royals and Tampa Bay Rays play on Thursday with the winner claiming the three-game series.

Kansas City is 31-17 in home games and 48-40 overall. The Royals have the 10th-ranked team on-base percentage in the AL at .306.

Tampa Bay has a 43-43 record overall and a 20-18 record on the road. The Rays are 28-6 in games when they have more hits than their opponents.

The teams meet Thursday for the sixth time this season. The Royals lead the season series 3-2.

TOP PERFORMERS: Maikel Garcia has 15 doubles, four triples and five home runs for the Royals. Vinnie Pasquantino is 13-for-38 with a double and three home runs over the past 10 games.

Isaac Paredes has 17 doubles, a triple and 14 home runs for the Rays. Yandy Diaz is 12-for-44 with two doubles and two home runs over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Royals: 6-4, .232 batting average, 2.63 ERA, outscored opponents by seven runs

Rays: 6-4, .231 batting average, 2.97 ERA, outscored opponents by nine runs

INJURIES: Royals: Adam Frazier: 10-Day IL (thumb), Dan Altavilla: 10-Day IL (oblique), Josh Taylor: 60-Day IL (biceps), Kris Bubic: 60-Day IL (elbow), Kyle Wright: 60-Day IL (shoulder)

Rays: Richard Lovelady: 15-Day IL (forearm), Jacob Waguespack: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Jeffrey Springs: 60-Day IL (elbow), Drew Rasmussen: 60-Day IL (elbow), Shane McClanahan: 60-Day IL (forearm)

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.