Royals host the Rays on 8-game home skid

Tampa Bay Rays (44-35, second in the AL East) vs. Kansas City Royals (38-41, third in the AL Central)

Kansas City, Missouri; Wednesday, 7:40 p.m. EDT

PITCHING PROBABLES: Rays: Drew Rasmussen (6-5, 2.61 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, 67 strikeouts); Royals: Michael Wacha (4-6, 3.24 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 65 strikeouts)

BOTTOM LINE: The Kansas City Royals are looking to end their eight-game home losing streak with a win over the Tampa Bay Rays.

Kansas City is 38-41 overall and 19-20 at home. The Royals have gone 9-1 in games when they hit two or more home runs.

Tampa Bay has a 17-12 record on the road and a 44-35 record overall. Rays pitchers have a collective 3.56 ERA, which ranks eighth in the majors.

The teams meet Wednesday for the fifth time this season. The Royals are ahead 3-1 in the season series.

TOP PERFORMERS: Vinnie Pasquantino is fourth on the Royals with 19 extra base hits (seven doubles, a triple and 11 home runs). Salvador Perez is 9 for 36 with three doubles, three home runs and eight RBIs over the last 10 games.

Jonathan Aranda has a .332 batting average to lead the Rays, and has 15 doubles and eight home runs. Yandy Diaz is 21 for 44 with two home runs and five RBIs over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Royals: 4-6, .202 batting average, 3.47 ERA, outscored by four runs

Rays: 7-3, .319 batting average, 4.00 ERA, outscored opponents by 25 runs

INJURIES: Royals: Cole Ragans: 15-Day IL (rotator cuff), Michael Massey: 10-Day IL (ankle), Hunter Harvey: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Alec Marsh: 60-Day IL (shoulder), James McArthur: 60-Day IL (elbow)

Rays: Manuel Rodriguez: 15-Day IL (forearm), Jonny Deluca: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Ha-Seong Kim: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Hunter Bigge: 15-Day IL (lat), Shane McClanahan: 60-Day IL (tricep), Richie Palacios: 10-Day IL (knee), Alex Faedo: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Nathan Lavender: 60-Day IL (elbow)

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.