Tampa Bay @ Kansas City preview

Last Meeting ( Apr 8, 2014 ) Tampa Bay 1, Kansas City 0

Jake Odorizzi was one of the other players in the blockbuster trade that sent pitcher James Shields to the Kansas City Royals and Wil Myers to the Tampa Bay Rays before the 2013 season. The 24-year-old Odorizzi has worked himself into the rotation for the Rays and looks to make an impression as they visit the Royals on Wednesday for the rubber match of the three-game series. Tampa Bay will miss Shields this time around and Myers scored the winning run in the 1-0 victory Tuesday.

Neither team can complain as Myers won the American League Rookie of the Year in 2013 and Shields was 13-9 with a 3.15 ERA, but Odorizzi could swing the balance if he continues to improve after winning his season debut. Odorizzi will oppose veteran Jeremy Guthrie, who won a career-high 15 games last year. Norichika Aoki has been a thorn in Tampa Bay’s side during the series, going 5-for-9.

TV: 2:10 p.m. ET, Sun Sports (Tampa Bay), FSN Kansas City

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rays RH Jake Odorizzi (1-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. Royals RH Jeremy Guthrie (1-0, 6.35)

Odorizzi earned his first major-league victory in his season debut, shutting Toronto out over six innings on three hits with four strikeouts. The Illinois native was 0-1 in seven appearances (four starts) last season with a 3.94 ERA for the Rays and was 9-6 in Triple-A ball. Odorizzi pitched 3 1/3 innings of relief against the Royals last season, allowing a solo homer to Eric Hosmer and two runs overall.

Guthrie gave up four runs and seven hits over 5 2/3 innings, but found a way to beat the Chicago White Sox with good run support in his season debut. The Stanford product, starting his 11th major-league season, is 8-11 (1-1 last year) lifetime against the Rays with a 4.11 ERA in 138 innings. Evan Longoria is 12-of-42 and Matt Joyce 13-of-32 – each with two homers – in their careers against Guthrie.

WALK-OFFS

1. Kansas City C Salvador Perez has played in all seven games with 10 hits in 21 at-bats and a .607 on-base percentage.

2. Tampa Bay boasts a 2.48 ERA through their first nine games of the season – fifth best in the majors.

3. The Royals have yet to hit a home run this season – the longest stretch in franchise history to open a season without one.

PREDICTION: Rays 6, Royals 4