The Kansas City Royals will be facing off against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. This AL matchup begins at 4:07 p.m. ET and fans can catch the game on FB.
Kansas City Royals at Toronto Blue Jays Odds
Oddsmakers have listed Kansas City (+170) as the underdog to Toronto (-180). Bettors are able to gamble on the game’s total with odds listed at -115 for over 8.5 runs and -105 for under 8.5. Runline odds sit at -130 for betting the Royals +1.5 runs and +110 for the Blue Jays -1.5.
The Blue Jays are 11-5 SU and 8-6 ATS. The team has gained 3.0 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 2.8 units against the spread (ATS). Toronto has covered the spread four times in its last seven games and the under has hit in three of those seven. The Royals have gone 3-12 SU this year and are 6-7 ATS. Overall, the team’s lost 6.2 units for bettors taking the moneyline in this young season and 3.4 units ATS. Kansas City has covered the spread only twice over its last seven games and the total has gone under in four of those seven.
Blue Jays games have a 5-8-1 over/under record so far in 2018. Kansas City has an over/under record of 4-9.
Ian Kennedy is getting the start for Kansas City. The right-handed Kennedy is 1-1 with a 1.00 ERA and 16 strikeouts. He has yet to face the Blue Jays this year and only made one start against them in 2017 (0-1, 3.60 ERA and two strikeouts over five innings).
The Blue Jays are handing the ball to lefty J.A. Happ (2-1, 3.94 ERA), who’s got 23 strikeouts and five walks, as well as a WHIP of 1.31. Happ made two starts against the team in 2017, compiling a 0-1 record in 2017, posting a 0-1 record with a 1.35 ERA and 11 strikeouts.
Kansas City’s pitching staff allowed 5.0 runs per game and its starters own a 3.44 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 7.96 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 6.75, along with a WHIP of 1.21 and a K-per-9 of 7.31.
Royals hitters have slashed .238/.307/.350 on their way to 3.1 runs scored per game this season, including 3.2 runs per game over the team’s last 10 games and 3.0 per game over the team’s last five outings (0-5 SU).
Third baseman Mike Moustakas and first baseman Lucas Duda have led Kansas City’s hitters. Moustakas is slashing .361/.381/.656 with four home runs, 11 RBIs and 10 runs scored, while Duda (.277/.346/.468) is up to three homers, 10 RBIs and six runs scored.
Maintaining a slash line of .271/.357/.625 across 56 plate appearances, Duda performed well against lefties on the road last season (his total season line was .217/.322/.496).
In the other dugout, Toronto’s pitchers have allowed 3.8 runs per game overall in 2018. The club’s starters have an ERA of 4.63, a WHIP of 1.46 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 8.8. The bullpen has a solid ERA of just 2.18, a WHIP of 1.12 and a K/9 of 9.1.
The Toronto offense has produced 5.5 runs per contest, including 5.5 per game over its last 10 games and 5.8 per game over its last five. The team has hit .244/.338/.381 over its last five matchups and is 4-1 SU during that stretch.
Yangervis Solarte and Steve Pearce have led the charge for the Blue Jays’ batters so far. Solarte is slashing .280/.393/.520 with 14 hits, eight RBIs and eight runs scored, while Pearce’s line sits at .316/.366/.632 with 12 hits, nine RBIs and 11 runs.
The Royals have lost 1.0 units and are 3-2 ATS when facing a left-handed starting pitcher this season. The over has cashed in one of those games, as opposed to four that’ve gone under in such games. On the other hand, the Blue Jays have netted 1.4 units and are 5-5 ATS when facing a righty starter. The over’s cashed in three of those games, compared to six that went under the total.
Kansas City Royals vs. Toronto Blue Jays Free Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Blue Jays, ATS Winner – Royals, O/U – OVER
Notes
Betting Notes
The Royals have lost eight of their last nine games SU while the Blue Jays have won six of their last seven SU.
Kansas City fielders have committed three errors over their last five games, compared to zero errors for Toronto over its last five.
The Royals have hit eight home runs in their last 10 games, including five over their last five.
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