The Rays have turn out to be the gold requirements for small market groups. Whereas they nonetheless haven’t gained a championship, loads of followers would take the present six-year run the place they’ve gained 59 p.c of their video games, together with a pennant in 2020. This yr they might have their finest staff ever, zooming out to the perfect document in baseball with the fewest runs allowed within the recreation, and the second-most runs scored.

The Rays have achieved all this profitable with a payroll lower than what the Royals are spending this yr. Tampa Bay had an Opening Day payroll of simply over $73 million, with only one participant incomes greater than the $8.5 million the Royals pays pitcher Jordan Lyles. The Rays have developed stars like Shane McClanahan and Wander Franco, however simply eight gamers on their present 26-man roster are homegrown, and solely participant was signed to a multi-year MLB free agent contract – Zach Eflin, who signed a three-year, $42 million deal final winter. The remaining have been acquired by shrewd trades – netting gamers like Randy Arozarena, Yandy Diaz, and Isaac Paredes – and choosing up gamers let go from different organizations.

Kansas Metropolis Royals (20-54) vs. Tampa Bay Rays (52-25) at Tropicana Discipline, St. Petersburg, FL

Royals: 3.73 runs scored/recreation (twenty ninth in MLB), 5.32 runs allowed/recreation (twenty eighth)

Rays: 5.56 runs scored/recreation (2nd in MLB), 3.66 runs allowed/recreation (1st)

The Rays’ lineup has 4 of the highest 30 Most worthy place gamers in baseball, in line with fWAR. Wander Franco is their all-world shortstop who’s third in baseball with 24 steals and one of many lowest strikeout charges within the recreation. Submit-season hero Randy Arozarena is third in baseball in wRC+ with one of many league’s finest stroll charges. Proper behind him in wRC+ is Yandy Diaz, who has at all times had good onerous hit charges, however is lastly elevating the ball extra.

Total the Rays have drawn probably the most walks as a staff, have hit probably the most house runs, and stolen probably the most bases. They’re behind solely the Rangers in OPS with runners in scoring place. They’re third in Defensive Runs Saved, with Wander Franco enjoying like a Gold Glover at quick. Briefly, they’re a whole, well-rounded staff with seemingly no weaknesses.

The Rays have been identified for his or her skill to take seemingly any pitcher and switch them right into a stud. Regardless of having starters Jeffrey Springs, Drew Rasmussen, Shane Baz, and Josh Fleming out with damage, they’ve a 3.19 ERA from their beginning rotation, tops in all of baseball. Shane McClanahan leads all of baseball in ERA, and can face Royals opener Jose Cuas in a seeming mismatch on Thursday night. McClanahan was taken 13 picks behind Brady Singer within the 2018 draft, and is tenth in baseball in strikeout price along with his 97 mph fastball. He has given up two runs or much less in 13 of his 15 begins this yr. Each McClanahan and Friday’s starter Zach Eflin boast a number of the finest curveballs in baseball. Eflin can also be third in baseball in finest strikeout-to-walk ratio and his 53 p.c groundball price is seventh in baseball.

Yonny Chirinos has one of many lowest strikeout charges in baseball, relying most on a sinker/slider combo. He gave up 5 runs in lower than 5 innings his final outing and isn’t formally listed because the starter Saturday, so he might be a scratch. Arduous-throwing Tyler Glasnow has struggled the final three seasons with accidents, and he gave up six runs in 4 ¹⁄₃ innings his final outing in opposition to Baltimore.

The Rays have needed to scramble a bit with their bullpen, choosing up Robert Stephenson, Zack Littell, and former Royals lefty Jake Diekman mid-season after their unique groups had allow them to go. Peter Fairbanks nonetheless has 98 mph fastball velocity, however he hasn’t been lacking bats this yr and has handled hip discomfort. Former Royals pitcher Jason Adam – a Kansas Metropolis-area native – has a 1.90 ERA in 94 ²⁄₃ innings since becoming a member of the Rays.

This shall be a reunion for Royals supervisor Matt Quatraro, who was a coach for the Rays from 2017 till final yr. He might have welcomed a possibility to handle for the primary time within the massive leagues, however it price him a leap within the standings from the penthouse to the outhouse. The Royals might not be capable of compete with the Rays a lot this weekend, however at the least they will see up shut what sort of group they must be.