The set-up: The Royals won the first two of this four-game series, before the Rays struck back with a 12-0 rout last night. Jake Odorizzi threw six scoreless innings, extending his scoreless innings run to 20 2/3, over three starts. It was a reminder of the strong starting pitching Tampa Bay was supposed to have this season but the truth is, starts like Odorrizi's last night, have been few and far between. The Royals are the two-time defending AL champs (World Series winners last year) but it's been a struggle in 20916 and currently, the Royals are just 51-56. That's 10 games out in the AL Central plus KC is almost as far back of the AL's second wild card spot (eight games back with four teams in front of them, not to mention the White Sox, who are also eight games out in the wild card chase).

The pitching matchup: Ian Kennedy (6-9, 4.23 ERA) takes the mound for KC and Drew Smyly (3-11, 5.29 ERA) for the Rays. Kennedy allowed just one run over seven innings in his last start at Texas but settled for a no decision, extending his winless streak to SIX starts. He's not just without a win in that stretch, KC is 0-6 in those contests. A look at Drew Smyly's record shows it's been a long season for the left-hander but the Rays are hoping to see more of what he showed his last time out, when he allowed two runs on four hits over six innings of a 6-3 win against the Yankees.

The pick: Royals manager Ned Yost has tried nearly everything in an effort to solve his starting pitchers' woes but little has worked. As noted, the Royals have lost Kennedy's last six outings and why should that change here vs. Tampa Bay, a team he owns a 1-4 record against in seven starts, posting a 5.40 ERA? Smyly's better than his record and against KC, is 3-2 with a 3.93 ERA in six career starts (teams are 4-2). It's an 8* play on the Rays.