Royals host the Rays to kick off a 3-game series

Tampa Bay Rays (42-42, fourth in the AL East) vs. Kansas City Royals (47-39, third in the AL Central)

Kansas City, Missouri; Tuesday, 8:10 p.m. EDT

PROBABLE PITCHING PLAYERS: Rays: Zack Littell (2-5, 4.17 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, 82 strikeouts); Royals: Brady Singer (4-4, 3.12 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 85 strikeouts)

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK: LINE Royals -124, Rays +104; Over/Under is 9 1/2 Runs

BOTTOM LINE: The Kansas City Royals begin a three-game home series against the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday.

Kansas City has a 47-39 overall record and a 30-16 home record. The Royals have a 31-15 record in games in which they score eight or more hits.

Tampa Bay has a 42-42 overall record and a 19-17 road record. The Rays have a 27-6 record in games where they have more hits than their opponents.

Tuesday’s game will be the fourth meeting between these teams this season.

TOP PERFORMERS: Salvador Perez leads Kansas City with 14 home runs and a .474 slugging average. Vinnie Pasquantino has hit 12 of 38 home runs and nine RBIs in the last 10 games.

Isaac Paredes leads the Rays with 30 extra-base hits (16 doubles, one triple and 13 home runs). Yandy Diaz has hit 15 of 45 with three doubles, three home runs and nine RBIs in the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Royals: 5-5, .218 batting average, 3.21 ERA, one run batted in

Rays: 7-3, .264 batting average, 3.30 ERA, 15 runs more than opponents

INJURIES: Royals: Adam Frazier: 10-day IL (thumb), Dan Altavilla: 10-day IL (oblique), Josh Taylor: 60-day IL (biceps), Kris Bubic: 60-day IL (elbow), Kyle Wright: 60-day IL (shoulder)

Rays: Richard Lovelady: 15-day IL (forearm), Jacob Waguespack: 60-day IL (shoulder), Jeffrey Springs: 60-day IL (elbow), Drew Rasmussen: 60-day IL (elbow), Shane McClanahan: 60-day IL (forearm)

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The Associated Press produced this article using technology from Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

The Associated Press