Royals vs Rays Preview: Underdog Royals Aim to Spring Fresh

Seth Lugo is one of the best pitchers the Royals have going right now. The 35-year-old righty has been lights out this season. He's won both his starts and sits with a 1.18 ERA. That's really, really good. Lugo strikes out batters and keeps hitters off balance. He won a silver medal pitching for Puerto Rico in the 2017 World Baseball Classic. Today he'll face the Rays at Tropicana Field. This is a huge moment for Kansas City's pitching staff to prove itself against Tampa Bay.

Kansas City just beat Tampa Bay 12-5 yesterday. It was an absolute explosion of offense. Nick Loftin and Jac Caglianone both smashed home runs early. The Royals kept piling on runs all game. Now they're riding a two-game winning streak and sitting 34-46 on the season. They've gone 6-4 over their last ten games too. The Royals aren't out of the fight. They're hungry. They want to prove they can compete every single night at the plate and on the mound.

The Rays have lost two straight games. That's tough after winning the big one on June 24. They're still 43-33 overall and dominate at home with a 26-12 record at Tropicana Field. Tampa Bay is in strong shape for playoff positioning. But they need to get back on track. Casey Legumina takes the mound for the home team today. The Rays know they can't let this series slip away. Their pitching depth will be crucial in bouncing back strong tonight.

This matchup is packed with tension. Kansas City has momentum. They just crushed Tampa Bay and won back-to-back games. Seth Lugo is pitching great. The Royals believe they can win on the road. But Tampa Bay plays lights out at home. The Rays want to prove yesterday was just a blip. They've got the better record. They've got home field. Who will come out on top? You get to predict the winner. Think about what you've learned so far. What matters most in baseball — pitching, hitting, or home field advantage? Write your answer.