Tampa Bay Rays up next: Kansas City Royals

.Up next

Royals

Tonight-Thursday

What's new: The Royals have come back to Earth after an 18-11 start, losing 16 of 21 despite having the majors' best pitcher in Zack Greinke, who is 8-1, 1.10, and, fortunately for the Rays, won't pitch this series. Closer Joakim Soria, SS Mike Aviles, 3B Alex Gordon and C John Buck are on the DL, and OF Coco Crisp (the former Red Sox who sparred with James Shields) has been out with a sore shoulder. Soria and Crisp could return this week.

Key stat: K.C. relievers have a 9.68 ERA in their past 302/3 innings.

Connections: OF Jose Guillen is a former Ray; so is injured RHP Doug Waechter (elbow, oblique), a St. Petersburg native. RHP John Bale is brother-in-law of Lightning star Vinny Lecavalier. … Rays relievers J.P. Howell and Joe Nelson are former Royals.

Series history: Rays lead 47-41 overall and 27-19 at the Trop, their best records against any AL opponent.

Marc Topkin, Times staff writer