Thursday Thread: Royals at Rays

For several years, the Royals used to own the Rays. From 2012 through the first half of 2017, they went 27-9 against Tampa. Now, as Michael Scott would say, “how the turntables have... turned.” The Royals are just 1-8 in their last nine contests with the Rays, including 0-6 this season.

They have one more chance to score a victory against Tampa this year, and it is provided by the left arm of Danny Duffy, making his first start in almost two weeks since the Cardinals smacked a reduced-velocity Duffy around at Kauffman Stadium.

At 51 games under .500, I can’t wait to see how they get Lucas Duda and Alcides Escobar in the lineup tonight at the expense of Ryan O’Hearn and Brett Phillips. And I get it that Escobar has been better recently, but it doesn’t matter if he was hitting .400 this year - he should not be getting an ounce of playing time on this team. Play the young guys. Beat Tampa. Just one time.