After just a few days to reset their season, the Royals get again to motion this weekend trying to enhance on the worst first half in membership historical past. They’ve to complete 30-41 to keep away from setting a membership file for losses in a season, and so they’ll be examined instantly by dealing with off in opposition to one of the best staff within the American League, the Tampa Bay Rays.

The Royals did handle to separate a four-game set with the Rays in St. Petersburg just a few weeks in the past, and the Rays have performed terribly in July, dropping seven out of eight video games. In truth, after a sizzling begin, they’ve gone simply 29-28 since Could 8.

Tampa Bay Rays (58-35) vs. Kansas Metropolis Royals (26-65) at Kauffman Stadium, Kansas Metropolis, MO

Rays: 5.44 runs scored/sport (4th in MLB), 3.84 runs allowed/sport (1st)

Royals: 3.70 runs scored/sport (twenty ninth in MLB), 5.48 runs allowed/sport (twenty eighth)

The Rays are having their finest offensive season in franchise historical past by runs scored. They’ve hit probably the most house runs within the AL, stolen probably the most bases, are second in slugging share, third in on-base, and have drawn the third-most walks. Of the twelve Rays hitters with at the least 200 plate appearances this yr, ten have an OPS+ of 96 or higher and 7 are at 119 or higher.

Outfielder Luke Raley, who was acquired from the Dodgers final March, leads all rookies in wRC+ and slugging share. Wander Franco, who was benched for just a few video games of the Royals collection for his temperament, has been the fourth-most invaluable place participant in baseball, by fWAR. Isaac Paredes and Randy Arozarena are each among the many high ten hitters in baseball in wRC+. Yandy Diaz will miss Friday’s sport to see the beginning of his son, so the Rays have referred to as up first baseman Jonathan Aranda, who was hitting .342/.455/.589 in Triple-A.

Tyler Glasnow missed the start of the season with an indirect damage, however he has been hanging hitters out left and proper since returning. Amongst starters with at the least 40 innings pitched, solely Spencer Strider has a greater strikeout charge, and Glasnow has solely walked one hitter in every of his final three begins.

Shane McClanahan has been out because the finish of June with again tightness, an damage that brought about him to go away his begin in opposition to the Royals on June 22 within the fourth inning. McClanahan is tied for the MLB lead with 11 wins and he’s at the moment third amongst certified starters in ERA. His 96 mph fastball is one of many quickest amongst starters, however his stroll charge has spiked up considerably this season.

The Rays have but to announce a starter for Sunday, however Zach Eflin is the probably candidate. Tampa Bay is lacking Shane Baz, Josh Fleming, Drew Rasmussen, and Jeffrey Springs from the rotation as a consequence of damage.

The Rays bullpen has been shakier than the rotation. They’re tenth in baseball in ERA at 3.79 however twenty third in FIP at 4.38, worse than the Royals. They’ve the second-lowest strikeout charge of any bullpen, however with the Eleventh-highest stroll charge. Peter Fairbanks nonetheless throws within the high-90s, however his strikeout charge has fallen off, and his stroll charge has spiked. The Rays have needed to decide up participant launched from different organizations to fill out their bullpen, like Jake Diekman, Robert Stephenson, Javy Guerra, and Zack Littell. Their relievers enable simply 23 p.c of inherited runners to attain, the third-lowest charge in baseball.

The Rays are a really formidable opponent, however the Royals catch them once they’re not enjoying properly, with considered one of their high hitters out, and a banged up rotation. They’ve the arrogance of enjoying toe-to-toe with them just a few weeks in the past, and may use the All-Star break as a little bit of a reset to attempt to overlook the ugly first half. Nonetheless, the Rays are a supremely gifted staff. The second half doesn’t appear any simpler than the primary.