Rays-Royals Pointers

The Tampa Bay Rays and the Kansas City Royals will both be trying to pick up a win on Friday when they battle at Kauffman Stadium. Righthander Edwin Jackson will take the mound for the Rays to start this game. Jackson is 5-7 this season with a 4.25 ERA. The Royals will counter Jackson with Brian Bannister. Righthander Bannister has a 5.49 ERA to go along with a 7-8 record this season. NewBodog oddsmakers currently have the Rays listed as 120-moneyline favorites versus the Royals, while the game's total has not yet been posted. The Royals held off the Rays for a 4-2 win in Wednesday's series-opener. The six runs went UNDER the posted over/under (8.5). B.J. Upton and Cliff Floyd drove in the Tampa Bay runs. Matt Garza gave up four earned runs over five innings to suffer the loss. The Rays had been favored at -115 in that contest. Team records: Tampa Bay: 59-42 SU Kansas City: 46-57 SU Tampa Bay most recently: When playing on Friday are 5-5 Before playing Kansas City are 7-3 After playing Kansas City are 4-6 After a loss are 4-6 Kansas City most recently: When playing on Friday are 5-5 Before playing Tampa Bay are 3-7 After playing Tampa Bay are 3-7 After a win are 4-6 A few trends to consider: Tampa Bay is 15-7 SU in its last 22 games when playing Kansas City Tampa Bay is 3-6 SU in its last 9 games when playing on the road against Kansas City Tampa Bay is 4-10 SU in its last 14 games Tampa Bay is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games on the road Kansas City is 6-3 SU in its last 9 games when playing at home against Tampa Bay Kansas City is 7-15 SU in its last 22 games when playing Tampa Bay Kansas City is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games at home Next up: Kansas City home to Tampa Bay, Saturday, July 26