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It's no secret that the Royals have owned the Tampa Bay Rays in recent years. Since 2012, Kansas City is 27-9 overall against Tampa, and it has won seven of the 10 series between the clubs since then.
Today, behind Jason Vargas' left arm, the Royals will look to win yet another series against the Rays. They also look to win their first series overall since sweeping the Angels back on April 16, which is... a long time to go without a series win.
Here's the lineup: Escobar 6, Moustakas DH, Hosmer 3, Perez 2, Bonifacio 7, Merrifield 4, Soler 9, Gordon 8, Cuthbert 5. The Royals are facing old friend Jake Odorizzi, one of the four prospects traded from Kansas City to Tampa in the James Shields trade. Odorizzi is off to a nice start this year, posting a sub-3 ERA in the first month of his season.