Rays at Royals (Game 1)
The Tampa Bay Rays own the best record in baseball as the calendar turns to May and look to add two more victories when they visit the struggling Kansas City Royals for a doubleheader Wednesday afternoon. Ji-Man Choi, Tommy Pham and Yandy Diaz each knocked in a pair of runs during Monday’s 8-5 victory over the Royals to open the series before Tuesday’s game was washed out by rain.
The Rays led the majors in ERA (2.95) as April ended Tuesday and their offense has produced 28 runs while winning five of the last six games overall and improving to 10-2 on the road with four straight victories away from home. “You’ve got to be happy the way this club has come out of the gate strong,” Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash told reporters. “We felt like we were balanced and if you had a one-month review, you’d be happy with what you see.” The Royals are near the bottom of the league in pitching numbers and have dropped eight of their last 10 games after falling behind by four runs in two innings Monday before rallying within one twice. Third baseman Hunter Dozier is wielding the hottest bat for Kansas City of late, going 13-for-25 with seven RBIs during an eight-game hitting streak to raise his batting average to .349.
TV: 1:15 p.m. ET, FS Sun (Tampa Bay), FS Kansas City
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.
WALK-OFFS
1. Kansas City SS Adalberto Mondesi is 12-for-34 with 10 of his team-high 24 RBIs in the last eight contests.
2. Diaz is 6-for-15 in the last four games and boasts nine RBIs in his past six contests - six of those against Kansas City.
3. Royals 3B Kelvin Gutierrez is 4-for-11 with three RBIs and a walk in his first three major league games.