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Bubic’s Early Success and Recent Challenges
Kansas City left-hander Kris Bubic delivered a 1.43 ERA over his first 12 starts, going 5–3 and showcasing the swing-and-miss arsenal that made him a midseason breakout candidate. Since returning to a full-time rotation role, he’s struggled in his last two outings—allowing eight runs on 15 hits over 9⅔ innings—and will look to regain that early form against the Rays. Fans tracking season-long MLB picks know that momentum can shift quickly, and Bubic’s efficiency in the first three innings will be crucial to turning this one around.
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Royals’ Home Struggles Continue
Kansas City enters this matchup mired in a seven-game skid at Kauffman Stadium, having been outscored 31–11 during that span. The Royals desperately need the consistency they’ve shown on the road—where they just finished a 4–2 trip—to carry over into their six-game homestand. For more breakdowns of how KC can reverse course, check out our comprehensive MLB previews, which outline the adjustments manager Matt Quatraro might make to the lineup.
Bobby Witt Jr. and the Offense
Despite the team’s overall inconsistency, star shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. is on fire—batting .393 (11-for-28) over his last seven games and adding two more hits in Sunday’s 3–2 loss at San Diego. His recent surge (4-for-10 with a homer and four RBIs during Kansas City’s three-game sweep of Tampa Bay from April 29–May 1) provides a template for the offense to build around. Bettors looking for guidance can refer to our MLB expert betting guide to see how his hot hand influences run-line and total projections.
Rays’ Midseason Surge
Tampa Bay was just 21–26 on May 19 but has ripped off a 22–9 record since, including a sweep of the Mets and near-sweep of Detroit. Rookie Junior Caminero has gone 13-for-30 with four homers and nine RBIs over his last eight, and Jonathan Aranda is batting .387 in an eight-game streak. The Rays’ resurgence underscores why many fans are choosing to buy picks on this club’s potent lineup.
Pitching Matchup to Watch
Taj Bradley (4–5, 4.95 ERA) arrives fresh off a rough three-start stretch (19 runs, 16 hits in 9⅓ innings) but has shown the ability to settle in, as evidenced by five scoreless innings in his last outing against Kansas City. The battle of command—Bubic’s search for his early-season groove versus Bradley’s need to limit hard contact—should set the tone early. For a closer look at who’s moving up in the power rankings, visit our leaderboard of top handicappers to see which analysts are high on Kansas City’s pitching staff.
