Kansas City at Tampa Bay

The Kansas City Royals started the season strong, but the elevated expectations were drowned in a 23-game stretch that saw them falter to a 4-19 record, a scenario we have seen play out in the heartland over and over. This team, however, is a much more talented team, one that has regrouped instead of die, and a 9-1 tear has them eying the .500 mark today in Tampa Bay. Things could not be much worse for Tampa Bay who has dropped five out of six. Pitching, usually a team strength, has disappointed, and the 10 spot hung by the Royals in game one was the seventh time this season that a team reached double-digit runs. The last two years combined they allowed 10+ just eight times, so things are not the same in Tampa Bay. The Royals have outscored the Rays 34-13 in the four meetings this season, and keep pouring it on. Back the Royals.