I'm not going to lay nearly $3.00 to back the Rays at home against the Royals. But I want Tampa Bay involvement with Jordan Lyles on the hill for Kansas City.

So it's laying 1 1/2 runs on the run line.

Tampa Bay has the best record in baseball. Kansas City would have the worst record if it weren't for Oakland. The Royals have yet to win this season when Lyles starts. Kansas City is 0-15 in Lyles' past 15 starts! If given 1 1/2 runs, the Royals still only would be 2-13 in Lyles' outings.

Lyles has a 6.72 ERA. He has a 5.35 lifetime ERA against the Rays in seven appearances, including six starts. He faces a Tampa Bay team that is both powerful and speedy. The Rays are either first or second in homers, steals, runs and OPS. Kansas City has the third-highest bullpen ERA at 4.86.

The Rays shouldn't be taking the pathetic Royals lightly, however, after Kansas City won the opener of this series on Thursday. Tampa Bay came back to route the Royals, 11-3, on Friday.

That pushed Tampa Bay's record to 51-17 in its last 68 home games. The Royals are 20-56 in their last 76 road contests. They have lost 12 of the past 16 times at Tampa Bay.

Yonny Chirinos is slated to start for the Rays in what looks to be a bullpen game for them. Chirinos has a 2.72 ERA.

The Rays have won by multiple runs during seven of their past eight victories. Kansas City's last six defeats all have been by more than one run.

So happy Jordan Lyles Day.