The Toronto Blue Jays are ready to face the Kansas City Royals at Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium. Fox Sports Kansas City will televise this AL showdown. The first pitch is scheduled for 8:15 p.m. ET.
Toronto Blue Jays vs. Kansas City Royals Odds
Toronto (-135) is entering this game as the favorite over Kansas City (+125) and oddsmakers have set the Over/Under for this night game at 9.5 runs (+100 for the over and -120 for the under). You can also bet on the game’s runline with the most recent odds sitting at Blue Jays -1.5 runs (+110) and Royals +1.5 runs (-130).
The Blue Jays have gone 53-65 SU this year and are 51-66 against the spread (ATS). They’ve lost 8.3 units for moneyline bettors and 24.8 units ATS. Toronto has covered the spread only once over its last seven games and the over has hit in four of those seven. The Royals, on the other hand, are 36-82 SU and 52-65 ATS. The team has lost 31.8 units for moneyline bettors and 22.9 units ATS. Kansas City has covered the spread only twice over its last seven games and the under has cashed in three of those seven.
Royals games have an over/under record of 50-60-7 in 2018. Blue Jays games have gone over 59 times, gone under 50 times and pushed on eight occasions.
Ryan Borucki will get the start for the visiting Blue Jays. The left-handed Borucki is 2-2 with a 2.81 ERA and 32 strikeouts. He has yet to face the Royals this year and did not record a start against them in 2017, either.
The Royals are sending Heath Fillmyer (1-1, 3.13 ERA) to the mound. Fillmyer has 21 strikeouts and 17 walks to his name, as well as a WHIP of 1.29. Fillmyer did not record any MLB pitching stats last season.
Kansas City’s pitchers have allowed 5.5 runs per game overall this season as a unit. The club’s starters have an ERA of 5.28, a WHIP of 1.46 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 7.4. The bullpen has a 5.36 ERA, 1.55 WHIP and 7.1 K/9.
The Kansas City offense has produced 3.7 runs per outing, including 2.9 per game over its last 10 games and 3.4 per game over its last five. The team has slashed .217/.316/.329 over its last five games and is 2-3 SU during that stretch.
Second baseman Whit Merrifield and third baseman Mike Moustakas have led the Royals’ offense this year. Merrifield is hitting .299/.367/.420 with seven home runs, 37 RBIs, 54 runs and 25 stolen bases, and the line for Moustakas stands at .249/.309/.468 with 20 homers, 62 RBIs and 46 runs.
In the visiting dugout, Toronto’s pitchers have allowed 5.1 runs per game and its starting pitchers own a 4.83 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 7.84 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 4.54, along with a K/9 of 9.19.
Blue Jays hitters have slashed .242/.314/.424 on their way to 4.4 runs scored per game in 2018, including 3.9 runs per game over the team’s last 10 games and 2.4 per game over the team’s last five outings (2-3 SU).
Toronto’s offensive production has been powered by first baseman Justin Smoak and third baseman Yangervis Solarte, who’ve collectively launched 35 home runs. Smoak is slashing .257/.364/.473 with 18 home runs, 59 RBIs and 50 runs scored, while Solarte (.233/.287/.397) is up to 17 homers, 53 RBIs and 50 runs scored.
The Royals have lost 3.4 units and are 21-18 ATS when facing a lefty starter. The over’s hit in 13 of those games, compared to 24 that’ve gone under against left-handed starting pitchers.
Toronto Blue Jays at Kansas City Royals Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Blue Jays, ATS Winner – Blue Jays, O/U – UNDER
Betting Trends
- The over has hit in three of Kansas City’s last seven games.
- Kansas City has recorded 17.9 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 outings and 16.6 over its last five.
- The Blue Jays have hit 13 home runs in their last 10 games. The Royals have hit six over their last 10.
