The Tampa Bay Rays have finally woke up and are playing good baseball, coming off an 11-game road trip where they posted a 9-2 mark. Tonight they send Jake Odorizzi (4-7, 4.18) to the mound as they face off with James Shields (8-4, 3.93) and the Kansas City Royals.
The Rays are finally out of last place in the AL East after winning their third straight game and they'll enter Monday on an 8-1 run, overall. Meanwhile, after winning their 10th straight game on June 18 and taking over first place in the AL Central, the Royals have now dropped 10 of their last 16 and have been overtaken by the Tigers in the division. KC starter James Shields has been knocked around in his last three starts, allowing 13 earned runs and 29 base runners in 19 innings, for a 6.16 ERA & 1.53 WHIP. I like the Rays' starter Jake Odorizzi and what he'll bring tonight. The right-hander has allowed just 7 earned runs and 31 base runners in his last five starts, spanning 30 2/3 IP. Add in Shields' horrible road numbers over his last four starts away from home and we have a play on the Rays.