Kansas City Royals at Tampa Bay Rays 8/20/22 - MLB Picks & Predictions

The Kansas City Royals play the third game of a four-game series on the road Saturday against the Tampa Bay Rays. Kansas City is 48-72 following its 7-1 loss to Tampa Bay on Thursday in the opening game of the series. The Royals have lost four straight and six of the last seven. Kansas City is fourth in the American League Central, 60 games behind the first-place Cleveland Guardians.

Shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. is batting .249 with 57 RBIs and 105 hits to lead Kansas CIty in both. Third baseman Hunter Dozier is the leader in on-base percentage .304 and Catcher Salvador Perez is the leader in home runs with 17. On Saturday, the Kansas City Royals will send Kris Bubic to the mound. The left-hander is 2-7 with a 5.11 ERA, 80 Ks and 46 BBs.

Tampa Bay improved to 63-54 following its 7-1 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Thursday. Luis Patino threw five-plus strong Innings on the mound for Tampa Bay and Yandy Diaz collected three RBIs for the Rays. Tampa Bay has one five of the last six and the Rays are tied for second with Toronto in the American League east, 9 games behind first place New York.

Third baseman Yandy Diaz is batting .276 to lead Tampa Bay and has a team-high .384 on-base percentage. Left fielder Randy Arozarena is the leader in home runs with 16, RBIs with 62 and hits with 109. On Saturday, the Tampa Bay Rays will send Drew Rasmussen to the mound. The right-hander is 7-4 with a 2.80 ERA, 82 Ks and 25 BBs.