Kansas City (16-15) at Tampa Bay (14-16)
- When: May 1 2025, 1:10 PM
- Where: George M. Steinbrenner Field, Tampa
- Where to watch: FDSSUN
MLB Betting Preview: Royals vs. Rays
Moneyline: Rays -165 | Total: 8.0
The Tampa Bay Rays head into Thursday afternoon’s series finale as -165 moneyline favorites with the total sitting at 8.0, hoping to avoid an unexpected sweep at the hands of the red-hot Kansas City Royals.
Kansas City Royals Outlook:
Kansas City is playing its sharpest baseball of the season, winning eight of its last nine and taking the first two games of this set. Behind stellar starting pitching, the Royals are surging with a team ERA of 3.20 — good for fourth in MLB. They’ve allowed one or fewer runs in four of their past five games, including three shutouts. On Wednesday, rookie Noah Cameron flirted with history in his debut, taking a no-hitter into the seventh in a 3-0 win.
Veteran righty Seth Lugo (2-3, 3.08 ERA) gets the ball Thursday, coming off a dominant eight-inning shutout against Houston. He’s been a problem for Tampa in the past, posting a 2-0 record with a 1.35 ERA in two career starts.
Bobby Witt Jr. continues to be a consistent offensive spark, extending his hitting streak to 21 games and batting .322 on the season. Still, the Royals’ offense has only averaged 2.6 runs over their last five outings.
Tampa Bay Rays Preview:
After a five-game win streak, Tampa Bay’s bats have gone cold, scoring just once in the last 18 innings and getting shut out for the fourth time at home this season. Wednesday’s 0-for-8 mark with runners in scoring position underscored their lack of clutch hitting.
Right-hander Shane Baz (3-0, 2.45 ERA) aims to turn the tide after firing seven shutout frames in his last outing against San Diego. He’s yet to face Kansas City in his career and will need to match Lugo pitch-for-pitch to salvage the finale.
Final Prediction & Betting Recommendation:
The Royals are riding a wave of momentum, but with Baz on the mound and Tampa’s urgency to avoid the sweep, expect a tightly contested game. Kansas City’s scoring struggles could catch up to them against Baz’s electric stuff. However, Lugo’s elite form and Tampa’s current offensive woes point to a low-scoring grind.
Best Bets:
ATS Play: Royals +1.5 (-160) for value in a pitching duel
Lean: Under 8.0 (-105)
Score Prediction: Rays 3, Royals 2
- MLB Odds source: MyBookie Sportsbook
