Tampa Bay Rays vs. Kansas City Royals Betting Preview - May 1

Gambling911.com has your Rays vs. Royals betting preview.

With Tampa Bay greater than a -200 favorite here, our only focus would be on the total.  That total is coming in at 8 across the board with no movement at all the US-facing books but 8.5 at the European and US-licensed books, including Draftkings and FanDuel, as well as Westgate in Las Vegas.  None of those establishments were moving off that number.

Three of the last four meetings have gone OVER this total.  Half of the last ten have.  

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rays RH Ryne Stanek (0-0, 1.20 ERA) vs. Royals RH Jake Junis (2-2, 5.57)

Stanek continues to thrive in the "opener" role, allowing four hits over seven starts with 12 strikeouts and one walk across 10 2/3 scoreless innings. The 27-year-old Kansas native surrendered two hits across 2 2/3 innings combined while starting against Kansas City on April 23 and in the series opener Monday. Stanek, who was a first-round pick in 2013, has given up two runs and six hits in 4 1/3 frames over five games as a reliever this year.

Junis recorded a win against the Rays last week, allowing one run and four hits over five innings before leaving when a line drive struck his throwing hand. The strong effort was much needed from the 26-year-old Illinois native after he permitted 14 runs across 15 2/3 frames in the previous three starts while logging a pair of losses. Junis improved to 3-1 with a 2.08 ERA in three career starts and one relief appearance against Tampa Bay.