Login  | Free Registration

You are viewing a condensed version of this FoxSheet. Login as a FoxSheets Subscriber to view the full sheet.
Not a member? Subscribe today and start taking advantage of our premium information, including the Game Estimator™, the Super Situations ™, the Power Trends ™, and many more features.
MLB : ATS Matchup
Saturday 8/29/2015Line$ LineOU LineScore
KANSAS CITY  MEDLEN )
 
TAMPA BAY  ODORIZZI )
-1.5  +135

+1.5  -155
-110

+100

6.5ev
 
6
Final
3

KANSAS CITY (79 - 49) at TAMPA BAY (63 - 65)
View Previous GameView Next Game
Saturday, 8/29/2015 6:10 PM
KRIS MEDLEN (R) vs. JAKE ODORIZZI (R)
Board OpeningLatest
 LineTotalLineTotal
965KANSAS CITY+105Ov 7,-115+105Ov 7,+110
966TAMPA BAY-115Un 7,-105-115Un 7,-130
ADVANCED TEAM STATS
KANSAS CITY - Current Season Performance
 Team RecordsTeamOpponent
 W-LUnitsO-URunsAvgOBPSLGOPSRunsAvgOBPSLGOPS
All Games79-49+26.954-614.40.2700.3150.4090.7243.70.2460.3050.3900.695
Road Games34-28+7.726-294.10.2600.3010.3930.6944.00.2490.3150.4010.716
vs Right-handed Starters55-27+26.637-364.70.2740.3220.4200.7423.60.2420.3050.3890.695
Past 7 Games6-1+4.73-25.40.3110.3620.4940.8553.90.2440.2860.3990.685
Dome Games1-0+10-13.00.2120.2970.3330.6312.00.2120.2570.2420.500
Night Games54-35+14.735-464.10.2670.3120.3960.7083.40.2420.3000.3760.676
KANSAS CITY - Team Hitting and Fielding Statistics
Team BattingTeam BattingTeam Fielding
 RunsAVGOBPGABH2B3BHRSLGRBIBBSOSBLOBGIDPERRDPOSB
All Games4.40.2700.31512843651178230351020.409534290726808441296810858
Road Games4.10.2600.30162220757410314540.3932401293922541069384927
Righty Starters4.70.2740.32282277475914427690.4203631984635252881337239
KANSAS CITY - Bullpen Pitching Statistics
 ERAWHIPIPRERHHRBBSOW-LSVBSVPct.
All Games2.351.0864171191093183113538626-8461279.3%
Road Games2.431.108200.35754139188318911-623679.3%

TAMPA BAY - Current Season Performance
 Team RecordsTeamOpponent
 W-LUnitsO-URunsAvgOBPSLGOPSRunsAvgOBPSLGOPS
All Games63-65-5.357-623.70.2480.3040.3930.6963.90.2380.2970.3790.676
Home Games31-32-6.832-253.70.2450.3020.3920.6944.00.2360.2930.3790.672
vs Right-handed Starters41-51-12.842-453.50.2390.2930.3760.6694.10.2380.3000.3860.687
Past 7 Games3-4-1.95-23.70.2550.3230.4330.7565.10.2810.3250.4820.806
Dome Games32-33-732-273.60.2420.2980.3860.6843.90.2350.2910.3750.667
Night Games46-42+3.540-423.90.2470.3060.3950.7013.90.2420.3010.3870.688
TAMPA BAY - Team Hitting and Fielding Statistics
Team BattingTeam BattingTeam Fielding
 RunsAVGOBPGABH2B3BHRSLGRBIBBSOSBLOBGIDPERRDPOSB
All Games3.70.2480.30412842901062210281190.393453346102175844117749168
Home Games3.70.2450.3026320274979712590.3922171645014338753334135
Righty Starters3.50.2390.29392306373314821760.3762962347354758181516652
TAMPA BAY - Bullpen Pitching Statistics
 ERAWHIPIPRERHHRBBSOW-LSVBSVPct.
All Games3.811.225424.71901803705415041122-28491675.4%
Home Games3.641.1352159387180306422612-1026583.9%
SCHEDULE AND RESULTS
KANSAS CITY - Schedule
 Team StatsOpp Stats
DateTeam StarterOpponentOpp StarterScoreW/LLineTot.O/UHLOBEHLOBE
8/15/2015CUETO(R)LA ANGELSSHOEMAKER(R)9-4W-1507.5 unO141011151
8/16/2015VENTURA(R)LA ANGELSSANTIAGO(L)4-3W-1308 ovU580641
8/18/2015VOLQUEZ(R)@ CINCINNATIIGLESIAS(R)3-1W1107.5 unU1290591
8/19/2015GUTHRIE(R)@ CINCINNATISAMPSON(R)4-3W-1158 ovU11100990
8/20/2015DUFFY(L)@ BOSTONMILEY(L)1-4L1009 unU6601071
8/21/2015CUETO(R)@ BOSTONOWENS(L)2-7L-1508.5 unO4221471
8/22/2015VENTURA(R)@ BOSTONBARNES(R)6-3W-1359 unP12809111
8/23/2015VOLQUEZ(R)@ BOSTONRODRIGUEZ(L)8-6W1058.5 unO14701153
8/24/2015MEDLEN(R)BALTIMOREJIMENEZ(R)8-3W-1357.5 unO1370501
8/25/2015DUFFY(L)BALTIMOREGONZALEZ(R)3-2W-1208 unU671780
8/26/2015CUETO(R)BALTIMORECHEN(L)5-8L-1357 unO11601340
8/27/2015VENTURA(R)BALTIMORETILLMAN(R)5-3W-1158 unP1271680
8/28/2015VOLQUEZ(R)@ TAMPA BAYRAMIREZ(R)3-2W-1107 unU771770
8/29/2015MEDLEN(R)@ TAMPA BAYODORIZZI(R) 
8/30/2015DUFFY(L)@ TAMPA BAYKARNS(R) 
9/1/2015CUETO(R)DETROITVERLANDER(R) 
9/2/2015VENTURA(R)DETROITWOLF(L) 
9/3/2015VOLQUEZ(R)DETROITBOYD(L) 
9/4/2015MEDLEN(R)CHI WHITE SOXSAMARDZIJA(R) 
9/5/2015 CHI WHITE SOX  

TAMPA BAY - Schedule
 Team StatsOpp Stats
DateTeam StarterOpponentOpp StarterScoreW/LLineTot.O/UHLOBEHLOBE
8/15/2015ARCHER(R)@ TEXASLEWIS(R)4-12L-1258 unO10811461
8/16/2015SMYLY(L)@ TEXASGALLARDO(R)3-5L1058.5 ovU1290970
8/17/2015RAMIREZ(R)@ HOUSTONKAZMIR(L)9-2W1507.5 unO15102791
8/18/2015ODORIZZI(R)@ HOUSTONFELDMAN(R)2-3L1058 unU9801080
8/19/2015KARNS(R)@ HOUSTONKEUCHEL(L)2-3L1657.5 unU10701170
8/20/2015ARCHER(R)@ HOUSTONMCHUGH(R)1-0W1057 unU880110
8/21/2015SMYLY(L)@ OAKLANDBASSITT(R)2-1W1157 unU7711091
8/22/2015RAMIREZ(R)@ OAKLANDGRAY(R)5-4W1357 unO731850
8/23/2015ODORIZZI(R)@ OAKLANDGRAVEMAN(R)2-8L-1207.5 unO7721140
8/25/2015KARNS(R)MINNESOTASANTANA(R)7-11L-1407 unO131201250
8/26/2015ARCHER(R)MINNESOTADUFFEY(R)3-5L-1807 unO99113101
8/27/2015SMYLY(L)MINNESOTAMILONE(L)5-4W-1307.5 unO951960
8/28/2015RAMIREZ(R)KANSAS CITYVOLQUEZ(R)2-3L+1007 unU770771
8/29/2015ODORIZZI(R)KANSAS CITYMEDLEN(R) 
8/30/2015KARNS(R)KANSAS CITYDUFFY(L) 
8/31/2015ARCHER(R)@ BALTIMORECHEN(L) 
9/1/2015SMYLY(L)@ BALTIMORETILLMAN(R) 
9/2/2015RAMIREZ(R)@ BALTIMOREGAUSMAN(R) 
9/4/2015ODORIZZI(R)@ NY YANKEESSEVERINO(R) 
9/5/2015 @ NY YANKEES  
KEY GAME INFORMATION
KANSAS CITY: KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - Every once in a while, Ned Yost will spin a story about his days on Bobby Cox's bench with the Atlanta Braves, back when the organization was winning NL pennants by the fistful.
Inevitably, Yost would start drawing comparisons to his Kansas City Royals - that they were building through the farm system in the same manner as the Braves, and Kansas City would embrace the franchise in the same way Atlanta did if it ever became a winner.
Last year, that narrative finally made sense.
After squeaking into the playoffs as a wild card, the Royals swept all the way to the World Series. If not for a virtuoso performance by Madison Bumgarner of the San Francisco Giants, the Royals might very well have been celebrating their second championship.
The postseason run led Yost to draw one more comparison when he arrived in Arizona for the start of a new season, and his players filed into the clubhouse for the first time.
''It definitely reminded me of that feeling in Atlanta,'' he said, ''when you came to spring training every year with the feeling that you have an opportunity to go to the World Series - instead of hoping, you know? And it's a different feeling.''
There is good reason for that feeling, too.
The Royals return most of the pieces from the club that ended a 29-year playoff drought, including one of the best bullpens in baseball history. And the pieces they did lose to free agency have been replaced with what could turn out to be upgrades.
Designated hitter Billy Butler is gone, Kendrys Morales signed in his place. Alex Rios is taking over for Nori Aoki in right field. Edinson Volquez was signed to fill the rotation spot of staff ace James Shields, who chased bigger money all the way to San Diego.
Even though a few faces have changed, the tenants that the Royals believe in have not: They will continue to rely on speed, defense and pitching to chase another playoff berth.
''Any time you're fortunate enough to keep those key pieces, you feel good,'' said Greg Holland, the Royals' All-Star closer. ''Yeah, we lost Billy and Shields and Nori, but for the most part, we're right where we need to be.''
Besides, the back end of the bullpen is still intact.
Kelvin Herrera harnessed his electrifying fastball to become a shutdown seventh-inning reliever last season. Former starter Wade Davis had a historically dominant year as the setup man. Holland further cemented his status as the AL's best closer.
''The way you tilt the field in your favor, in my opinion, is having quality pitching and really good defense,'' Royals general manager Dayton Moore said. ''Those are things that hopefully can show up every single day and perform for you.''
As the Royals approach opening day against the Chicago White Sox on April 6 at Kauffman Stadium, here are a few other story lines to watch this season:
THE ROTATION: Shields was the anchor in 2014, but he struggled mightily in the playoffs. So when the Royals signed Volquez to replace him, it was mostly met with a collective shrug.
Besides, the success of the rotation will more likely be determined by the success of young flamethrowers Danny Duffy and Yordano Ventura, both of whom have ace ability.
INJURY BUGS: The Royals stayed remarkably healthy last season. Will karma even out?
Second baseman Omar Infante already missed long stretches of spring training with a bone spur in his elbow that could require surgery next offseason. Left fielder Alex Gordon also got a slow start to the spring after undergoing wrist surgery this past offseason.
SLOW STARTS: The last couple of seasons, the Royals have gotten off to slow starts. They unsuccessfully dug out of a big hole two years ago, but pulled it off last season.
Considering every other team in the AL Central appeared to get better over the winter, the Royals can ill afford to let Detroit, Cleveland and Minnesota and the White Sox bury them.
RESTING SALVY: All-Star catcher Salvador Perez faded in the playoffs in part due to his heavy work load in the regular season, where he appeared in 150 games. Yost intends to give him more days off this year, though it's hard to take his bat out of the lineup.
BASEBALL TOWN: Did the World Series run turn Kansas City into a baseball town again? The club has been overshadowed for decades by the Chiefs, who play just across the parking lot in Arrowhead stadium. How will fans respond to having the reigning AL champions?
TAMPA BAY: ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) - A year after being a trendy preseason pick to contend for the World Series, the Tampa Bay Rays are back in a familiar role as underdogs.
''That's good. ... We like that,'' three-time All-Star third baseman Evan Longoria said, noting the team has a history of flourishing most when little is expected from outside the organization.
''I just think it's going to be a really good year,'' the club's career home run and RBIs leader said. ''We've got a young team, a bunch of guys eager to learn and get out there and win games. I'm really looking forward to that.''
Former manager Joe Maddon - and his often unconventional way of doing things - is gone.
So is Andrew Friedman, the young executive who was architect of the teams that made the playoffs four of the past seven seasons.
The roster has a much different look, too, with 10 key players from a year ago either traded or released this winter.
''The end result is a club that we have optimism about, a club that we're excited about, that we think can compete for a playoff spot. And, that's what we want,'' team president of baseball operations Matt Silverman said.
''Every year, we want to come into camp believing our team can play meaningful games in September and have a chance to go to the playoffs, and even beyond,'' Silverman added. ''We have that - and at the same time, we've reloaded our minor league system, added some players who impact us this year, might impact us in the future, and we're better off because of that.''
Shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera, catcher Rene Rivera, outfielder Steven Souza Jr., and pitchers Kevin Jepsen, Ernesto Frieri and Burch Smith are offseason acquisitions who could figure in the team's success - or failure.
Smith and two other young starters - Matt Andriese and Nathan Karns - figure to begin the season in the rotation because of injuries to Alex Cobb, Drew Smyly, and Matt Moore.
The hope is the rest of the projected rotation, Chris Archer and Jake Odorizzi, can help the Rays stay afloat until they can get back to full strength.
''If you've got starting pitching, you've got a leg up on going into the season,'' rookie manager Kevin Cash said. ''We're very fortunate with the pitchers we have - starters and relievers.''
Cobb, sidelined by a forearm strain during spring training, believes the team will thrive as underdogs.
''We're not going to get bullied. A lot of people are picking us at the bottom, and we're going to embrace that and have each other's backs,'' the right-hander said.
''Any time anybody calls you out in your profession and makes you feel like you're not as good as you know you are, there's always something to prove,'' Cobb said. ''I don't feel like we need to have extra motivation. It's just going to be that much sweeter when we go out there and perform well.''
A look at the keys to the Rays' season:
WHO WILL LEAD?: Pitching and defense were staples during six consecutive winning seasons that produced four playoff berths and one trip to the World Series. The Rays slipped to 77-85 a year ago, their first losing record since 2007. They're banking on Cash, who has no previous managerial experience, being the right fit to restore winning ways. At 37, he's the youngest current manager or head coach in the four major professional sports.
BETTER LONGO: Longoria played in every game in 2014 for the first time in his career, however he hit a disappointing .253 with 22 homers and 91 RBIs. He's moving into the cleanup spot after batting third most of his career, and knows he has to be more consistent if the Rays - last in the AL in runs scored a year ago - are going to have a chance to be better offensively.
BEHIND THE PLATE: Catcher Ryan Hanigan was traded and backup Jose Molina was released this winter. The three-team deal that sent Wil Myers to San Diego and brought Souza to Tampa Bay from Washington, also landed Rivera from the Padres.
The Rays believe he's an upgrade defensively, as well as offensively.
Rivera posted career highs with a .252 batting average, 11 homers and 44 RBI's in 103 games last season. Still, the 31-year-old catcher stresses his job is to provide solid direction behind the plate.
''I want to help my pitching staff first. I think that's what the game is all about. If you pitch well, you're going to win some games,'' Rivera said. ''If I get a hit here, a hit there and help us win some games, that's even better.''
PREVIEW
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PA SPORTSTICKER AL PREVIEW (KANSAS CITY-TAMPA BAY) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

*Royals-Rays Preview* =====================

By JEFF MEZYDLO STATS Senior Writer

Kansas City (78-49) at Tampa Bay (63-64), 6:10 p.m. EDT

Kris Medlen is grateful Kansas City was willing to help his comeback from a second elbow surgery. In return, the Royals hope the right-hander can provide some quality innings now that he's part of their rotation.

Looking to further progress from his first start in two years, Medlen tries to pitch the visiting Royals to a seventh consecutive victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday night.

After seven appearances out of the bullpen since returning to the majors July 20, Medlen (2-0, 3.10 ERA) allowed three runs, struck out six without a walk while throwing 69 pitches in six innings of Monday's 8-3 win over Baltimore in his first regular-season start since Sept. 27, 2013.

"I said from the get-go, I don't want this to be a, `Yay, you made it, kind of thing,'" Medlen said. "I wanted to come out and produce."

For the time being, Kansas City (79-49) believes Medlen is the best option to replace the ineffective Jeremy Guthrie in the rotation.

"I've said it every interview I've done, I'm so thankful for the opportunity to be a part of this team," he said. "Right now, it's a different role than it was early on, but (I'm) going to keep working and improving."

Facing the Rays (63-65) for the first time, Medlen tries to help Kansas City record its 17th win in the last 22 games. Kendrys Morales hit a two-run homer and Ben Zobrist had two hits against his former team as the Royals beat Tampa Bay for the 15th time in the last 18 meetings, 3-2 on Friday.

Morales is 6 for 12 with two home runs and four RBIs in the last four games. He's recorded a major league-leading 46 of his total 89 RBIs with two outs.

"He's been consistent all year," manager Ned Yost said. "Got a lot of big hits, picked up a lot of big RBIs. An anchor in the middle of our lineup."

Zobrist, who played his first nine seasons in Tampa before being traded to Oakland in January then to Kansas City on July 28, is hitting .390 in his last 15 contests.

"I could have easily walked into the other clubhouse and started getting dressed in my old uniform," he said before playing his first game against the Rays on Friday.

Zobrist should square off against a familiar face in Jake Odorizzi (6-6, 3.02), who has not earned a decision in his last five starts to tie the club mark set in 2000 by current Royals pitching coach Dave Eiland.

The right-hander posted a 1.40 ERA while going 3-2 in his first eight home starts before giving up six runs and nine hits in six-plus innings of a 9-6 victory there over Atlanta on Aug. 12. Since, he's allowed three runs in 12-plus innings of his last two that came on the road.

Odorizzi is 0-1 with a 3.86 ERA in two starts against the Royals.

Eric Hosmer is 4 for 7 with a home run against Odorizzi, but 0 for 11 in four games since hitting .383 with six homers and 33 RBIs in his previous 42 contests.

Tampa Bay's Daniel Nava is 6 for 12 in the last three games after going 0 for 12 in his previous six.


Last Updated: 3/28/2024 8:04:37 AM EST.


You are viewing a condensed version of this FoxSheet. Login as a FoxSheets Subscriber to view the full sheet.
Not a member? Subscribe today and start taking advantage of our premium information, including the Game Estimator™, the Super Situations ™, the Power Trends ™, and many more features.