The set-up: Two struggling teams will open a three-game series Monday night at Kauffman Stadium, as the 16-23 Tampa Rays visit the Kansas City Royals. The 16-23 Rays got clobbered on Sunday in a 17-1 loss at Baltimore. The Orioles pounded out 19 hits, as Tampa Bay lost its sixth game in seven outings. The Rays were within a game of .500 following a 5-3 home win over the Toronto Blue Jays back on May 5 but their 1-6 run puts them badly in the need of a series win. Meanwhile, things did not go much better for the Royals over the weekend, as after a 10-9 comeback win on Friday, Kansas City followed it up by getting outscored 17-4 in the next two games. After their 11-2 loss on Sunday, the Royals have dropped four of five since a 15-7 win at Baltimore last Tuesday.

The pitching matchup: A pair of lefties square off in Monday's series opener, Ryan Yarbrough (2-2, 4.30 ERA) for Tampa Bay and Eric Skoglund (1-2, 6.34 ERA) for Kansas City. Yarbrough followed an excellent five-inning performance on May 4 (one hit and no runs allowed in a 6-2 win over Toronto) with a disastrous one on Wednesday, as he allowed five runs on six hits in a 5-2 setback against Atlanta. Yarborough will be receiving his first look at Kansas City. Skoglund received his second straight no-decision on Wednesday after allowing three runs on five hits in 6 1/3 innings at Baltimore. His lone win of the season came back on April 28, when he allowed just two hits over seven innings versus the Chicago White Sox. Like Yarbrough, Skoglund will be making his first career appearance against Tampa Bay.
The pick: The Royals open a six-game stretch at Kauffman Stadium with just six wins at home (against 13 losses), which is tied for second-fewest among all major-league teams. However, the Royals have won 16 of the last 19 home meetings with the Rays. Both teams are off blowout losses on Sunday but despite the pitching woes of both starters, I see a low-scoring contest in this one. Make the Under a 10* play.