Toronto Blue Jays vs. Kansas City Royals Betting Preview

Victor TrejosBaseball, MLB

The Toronto Blue Jays will take on the Kansas City Royals at Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium. Fox Sports Kansas City will broadcast this AL showdown and the action gets underway at 8:15 p.m. ET.

Toronto Blue Jays at Kansas City Royals Odds

Toronto (-130) is entering this game as the favorite over Kansas City (+120) and Vegas has put the Over/Under for this night game at 9 runs. Odds for wagering on the game’s total sit at +110 for the under and -130 for the over. Bettors can also wager on the game’s runline with the current odds standing at +115 for the Blue Jays -1.5 runs and -135 for the Royals +1.5 runs.

The Royals are 36-84 straight up (SU) and 54-65 against the spread (ATS). The team has lost 31.7 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 20.9 units (ATS). Kansas City has a 3-4 ATS mark over its last seven games and the total has gone under in three of those seven. The Blue Jays are 55-65 SU and have gone 51-68 ATS. Overall, the team’s lost 8.6 units for moneyline bettors and 26.8 units ATS. Toronto has covered the spread just once in its last seven games and the under has cashed in four of those seven.

Royals games have an over/under record of 51-61-7 in 2018. The Blue Jays have been a decent over bet with a total record of 60-51-8.

Right-hander Sam Gaviglio will get the nod for Toronto. Gaviglio is 2-5 with a 4.86 ERA and 81 strikeouts. He has yet to face the Royals this year and did not record a start against them in 2017, either.

The Royals are putting the ball in the right hand of Glenn Sparkman (0-1, 5.06 ERA), who has 14 strikeouts and seven walks this season as well as a 1.63 WHIP. Sparkman did not record a start against the Blue Jays in 2017.

As a unit, Kansas City’s pitchers have allowed 5.5 runs per game overall in 2018. Its starting pitching staff has an ERA of 5.34, a WHIP of 1.47 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 7.4. The bullpen has a 5.29 ERA, 1.53 WHIP and 7.1 K/9.

The Kansas City offense has produced 3.7 runs per outing, including 3.3 per game over its last 10 games and 3.6 per game over its last five. The team has hit .231/.314/.385 over its last five matchups and is 1-4 SU during that span.

Second baseman Whit Merrifield and third baseman Mike Moustakas have led the Royals’ batters this year. Merrifield is slashing .299/.368/.418 with seven home runs, 38 RBIs, 56 runs and 26 stolen bases, while the line for Moustakas stands at .249/.309/.468 with 20 homers, 62 RBIs and 46 runs.

In the other dugout, Toronto’s pitching staff allowed 5.1 runs per game and its starters own a 4.86 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and 7.76 K/9. The bullpen has logged an ERA of 4.51, along with a K-per-9 of 9.22.

The Blue Jays offense has slashed .242/.315/.424 on its way to 4.5 runs scored per game in 2018, including 3.9 runs per game over the team’s last 10 games and 3.2 per game over the team’s last five outings (3-2 SU).

First baseman Justin Smoak and third baseman Yangervis Solarte have led Toronto’s offense. Smoak is hitting .257/.365/.471 with 18 home runs, 59 RBIs and 50 runs scored. Solarte (.233/.287/.397) has produced 17 homers, 53 RBIs and 50 runs scored.

The Blue Jays have gained 5.5 units and are 33-43 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher this season. The over has cashed in 40 of those games, as opposed to 32 that’ve gone under in such games. On the other hand, the Royals have lost 27.3 units and are 32-47 ATS when facing a righty starter. The over has hit in 37 of those games, compared to 37 that went under.

Toronto Blue Jays at Kansas City Royals Free MLB Tip

redictions: SU Winner – Blue Jays, ATS Winner – Blue Jays, O/U – UNDER

Betting Trends

  • Toronto has recorded 12 extra-base hits over its last five outings. Kansas City has 13 XBH over its last five.
  • The Royals have dropped five of their last six games SU.
  • Kansas City has posted 18.9 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 outings and 18.0 over its last five.
  • The Blue Jays have hit 13 home runs in their last 10 games. The Royals have hit eight over their last 10.