Tampa Bay Rays vs Kansas City Royals Picks and Predictions May 1st 2025

Royals vs Rays Game Preview: Kansas City Riding Pitching Wave into Series Finale

The Kansas City Royals are playing their most dominant baseball of the season—and they’re doing it the old-fashioned way: with elite pitching and just enough timely hitting.

Coming into Thursday’s finale against the Tampa Bay Rays, Kansas City has already taken the first two games of the series, holding the Rays to just one run across 18 innings, including a 3-0 shutout win on Wednesday.

The Royals, now winners of eight of their last nine, are riding high as they send veteran righty Seth Lugo to the mound in pursuit of their first sweep in Tampa Bay since 1998.

Get the latest series odds and prop picks at the MLB odds page.

Pitching Carries Kansas City

Kansas City’s pitching has been nothing short of dominant this past week. The Royals now rank fourth in MLB with a 3.20 ERA, and they’ve allowed one run or fewer in four of their last five games, including three shutouts.

Wednesday’s win was fueled by a stunning major league debut from Noah Cameron, who took a no-hitter into the seventh inning before finishing with 6 1/3 innings of one-hit baseball. Cameron walked five and struck out three in a poise-filled performance.

“It’s fun to see a guy come up and compete like that,” said Royals manager Matt Quatraro. “He gave us everything we needed.”

Now, the ball goes to Seth Lugo (2-3, 3.08 ERA), who’s coming off his best outing of the season: eight shutout innings against Houston, striking out eight and walking just one in a 2-0 win.

Lugo is 2-0 with a 1.35 ERA in two career starts vs. Tampa Bay.

Bobby Witt Jr. Stays Hot

Kansas City’s offense has been quiet—averaging just 2.6 runs over its last five games—but Bobby Witt Jr. has kept the energy alive at the plate.

Witt extended his hitting streak to 21 games on Wednesday and is now batting .322 on the season. His consistency at the top of the lineup has kept the Royals afloat during an otherwise lean offensive stretch.

Kansas City is hoping other bats will follow his lead and provide run support in Thursday’s finale against a stingy Tampa Bay starter.

Dive deeper into Royals player stats on the MLB team pages.

Rays’ Offensive Woes Continue

The Rays entered this series on a five-game winning streak, but have seen their bats go silent against Kansas City pitching.

Wednesday marked Tampa Bay’s fourth home shutout loss of the season, and the club went 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position. They’ve now been held to just one run and eight singles through two games.

“We could never really get anything going,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said postgame. “Momentum was in their favor, and we’ve got to find a way to come up with the big hit.”

Jonathan Aranda remains a bright spot, hitting .299, while Junior Caminero leads the club with six home runs. But the supporting cast has gone cold in key moments.

Shane Baz Gets the Ball for Tampa Bay

The Rays will counter with Shane Baz (3-0, 2.45 ERA), who’s coming off a gem of his own. Baz threw seven scoreless innings in a 1-0 win over San Diego, striking out six and allowing just four hits and one walk.

This will be the first career start against Kansas City for the 25-year-old right-hander, who has shown poise and command through his first five starts of 2024.

A strong outing from Baz could give the Rays their best shot at avoiding a sweep and getting back on track.

Get pitching insights and daily matchups via the MLB expert betting guide.

Series Snapshot: Royals vs Rays

Players to Watch

Bobby Witt Jr. (KC) – The heartbeat of the Royals’ offense. His 21-game hit streak is one of the longest in MLB this season.

Seth Lugo (KC) – Coming off a masterclass against Houston, Lugo has been rock-solid on the mound and has history of success vs. Tampa Bay.

Shane Baz (TB) – Undefeated with a sub-2.50 ERA. He’ll be the key to salvaging the finale for the Rays.

Junior Caminero (TB) – Tampa Bay’s power threat. If the Rays are going to win, they’ll likely need a big swing from him.

FAQs

When is Royals vs Rays Game 3?
Thursday afternoon at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida.

What’s the series score?
Kansas City leads 2-0. A win on Thursday would complete a sweep.

Who are the starting pitchers?
Seth Lugo (KC) vs. Shane Baz (TB).

How have the Royals performed recently?
They’ve won eight of their last nine games and boast one of the best ERAs in baseball.

Can the Rays avoid the sweep?
With Shane Baz on the mound, they have a strong chance—but their bats must wake up.

Where can I find game-day picks and predictions?
Visit the MLB Picks Page for expert analysis and betting insights.