Royals-Rays Lines Preview

The Kansas City Royals and the Tampa Bay Rays will both be trying to pick up a win on Friday when they battle at Tropicana Field. The Royals will pin their hopes on the pitching of righthander Sidney Ponson in this game. Ponson has a 1-6 record and a 6.18 ERA this season. It'll be David Price toeing the rubber for the Rays in this contest. Lefthander Price is 3-4 with a 5.60 ERA so far this season. Oddsmakers currently have the Rays listed as 220-moneyline favorites versus the Royals, while the game's total has not yet been posted. The Royals were defeated 7-3 by the Orioles last time out, as +145 underdogs. The game's 10 runs made it OVER the posted over/under (8.5). David DeJesus had three hits and drove in one run for the Royals. Luke Hochevar surrendered 11 hits and seven runs over six innings in the loss. The Rays were defeated 6-2 by the Yankees in the rubber match on Wednesday, as a -110 pick'em. That game's eight runs went UNDER the posted over/under (8.5). Evan Longoria belted a two-run homer for the Rays, while Matt Garza gave up eight hits and three runs over seven innings in the loss. Current streak: Kansas City has lost 2 straight games. Team records: Kansas City: 40-61 SU Tampa Bay: 55-47 SU Kansas City most recently: When playing on Friday are 3-7 Before playing Tampa Bay are 1-9 After playing Baltimore are 5-5 After a loss are 2-8 Tampa Bay most recently: When playing on Friday are 6-4 Before playing Kansas City are 7-3 After playing NY Yankees are 2-8 After a loss are 5-5 A few trends to consider: The total has gone UNDER in 8 of Kansas City's last 10 games when playing Tampa Bay Kansas City is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games on the road Kansas City is 3-13 SU in its last 16 games Kansas City is 1-8 SU in its last 9 games when playing on the road against Tampa Bay Tampa Bay is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing Kansas City Tampa Bay is 8-1 SU in its last 9 games when playing at home against Kansas City The total has gone UNDER in 10 of Tampa Bay's last 12 games The total has gone UNDER in 8 of Tampa Bay's last 10 games when playing Kansas City Next up: Tampa Bay home to Kansas City, Saturday, August 1