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Red-Hot Royals Set to Open Series vs. Slumping Rays
Royals Riding High
The Kansas City Royals are presently passing success as they come into their three- game series against the struggling Tampa Bay Rays on a six- game winning streak. The activity begins on Friday inSt. Petersburg, Florida.
Bobby Witt Jr. continued his emotional play for the Royals by hitting a two- run double in Wednesday’s 8- 3 win against the Detroit Tigers, after a two- homer, six- RBI game on Tuesday. Witt is on a hot streak, batting .417 with two homers, 10 RBIs, and seven runs in his once six games. His current winning streak has played a pivotal part in the Royal’s recent domination, outscoring their rivals 45- 18 in the process.
Maikel Garcia has also played an important part, with a 10- game streak of hits. Throughout this period, his batting normal is .364 with six additional base hits, eight RBIs, and 11 runs scored. Garcia has recorded hits in 24 out of his once 28 games, bringing further versatility to the offense of Kansas City.
“I couldn’t be happier for these guys,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. “They are putting in the work, and their attitudes have been tremendous. They deserve to have fun. This is what you play for, to win games.”
Dominant Pitching from Seth Lugo
On the mound, right-hander Seth Lugo (7-1, 1.79 ERA) will start for the Royals. Lugo leads the American League in wins and ERA and has been outstanding in his recent outings, striking out 22 batters over his last two starts. His only career start against Tampa Bay came in 2020, where he secured a win while playing for the New York Mets.
Rays Seeking a Turnaround
The Rays, on the other hand, are trying to break out of a four-game losing streak. Their bullpen struggled in an 8-5 loss to the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday, and they are dealing with the potential loss of Josh Lowe, who exited the game with right-side tightness and will undergo an MRI.
“Extremely frustrated,” Lowe said about his injury. “I worked hard to be here and to get back, and to have something happen again is frustrating.”
Pitching Matchup
The Tampa Bay team plans to start off the game with Shawn Armstrong as the opener before relying on Tyler Alexander (2-2, 5.17 ERA) for most of the innings. Alexander was outstanding in his previous outing, making it into the eighth inning with a perfect-game opportunity against the Toronto Blue Jays.
Series Outlook
With the Royals seeking to continue their winning streak and the Rays hoping to rebound, this series opener is set to be an interesting clash between teams moving in different directions. The Royals are full of belief and strong showings, while the Rays are struggling to find solutions to stop their decline. Fans should anticipate an electrifying and closely contested match when these two teams collide in St. Petersburg.
