Royals vs Rays Picks and Prediction – 4/30/2025

On Wednesday, the Kansas City Royals (14-15) face off against the Tampa Bay Rays (14-14) at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Florida. Keep up to date with all the MLB action, with our expert MLB picks.

Tampa Bay comes into this matchup on a five-game winning streak prior to their series opener against Kansas City. In their 4-2 victory over San Diego, Rays pitcher Zack Littell delivered a solid performance on the mound, completing five innings in which he surrendered two earned runs on five hits. He issued just one walk and struck out one batter, helping to keep the Rays in control throughout the game. Offensively, Junior Caminero has emerged as Tampa Bay’s top power threat this season, leading the team with five home runs. Close behind him are Brandon Lowe and Jonathan Aranda, each with four home runs so far. Lowe has been especially productive in driving in runs, pacing the team with 15 RBIs, making him the top run producer in the lineup. When it comes to consistency at the plate, Aranda stands out by posting the highest batting average on the team at .309. Tampa Bay has been hot recently, riding a five-game winning streak during which they’ve averaged 4.6 runs scored per game. This strong stretch included taking two out of three games from the Arizona Diamondbacks and completing a sweep against the Padres on the road. These results have helped the Rays stay competitive in the American League East, where they currently trail the division-leading Yankees by just three games. Overall, the Rays’ offense has been steady, averaging 4.2 runs per game through the season. Their recent surge has energized the team and their fans alike, showcasing both improved pitching and timely hitting.

Kansas City enters this game on a one-game losing streak, but has won four of their last five games prior to their series opener against Tampa Bay. During their recent 7-3 defeat to the Houston Astros, Jonathan India was a bright spot at the plate for the Royals, collecting two hits in three at-bats, scoring a run, and driving in another. For the season, Vinnie Pasquantino has established himself as Kansas City’s top home run threat, leading the team with three long balls. Right behind him, Maikel Garcia, Salvador Perez, and Bobby Witt Jr. each have two home runs so far. Pasquantino is also the team’s main run producer, currently pacing the Royals with 16 RBIs. When it comes to consistency at the plate, Bobby Witt Jr. stands out as Kansas City’s batting leader, sporting an impressive .315 average through the early part of the campaign. Looking at their recent form, the Royals have managed to put up an average of four runs per game over their last five contests. Despite this, they remain 4.5 games back of the division-leading Detroit Tigers in the American League Central standings. Now, the Royals will try to slow down the red-hot Tampa Bay Rays as they open a road series in Florida. Up to this point in the season, Kansas City has averaged 3.1 runs per game overall.

Kansas City has struggled significantly away from home, losing ten of their last thirteen road games. Their offense has been largely unproductive during this stretch, failing to generate much scoring. Meanwhile, the Rays are hoping to maintain their recent positive momentum. Taking the mound for Tampa Bay is Drew Rasmussen, who has been impressive so far this season, posting a 1-1 record and an excellent 2.10 earned run average. Final Score Prediction, Tampa Bay Rays win 3-2.