The Kansas City Royals will head east to Rogers Centre to take on the Toronto Blue Jays. The first pitch is scheduled for 3:07 p.m. ET and Fox Sports Kansas City will be televising this AL matchup.
Kansas City Royals at Toronto Blue Jays Odds
Eric Skoglund (0-1, 9.64 ERA) will get the nod for Kansas City. The southpaw Skoglund started five games last year while finishing the season 1-2 overall with a 9.50 ERA and a 2.33 WHIP.
The Blue Jays have tabbed lefty Jaime Garcia (1-0, 3.18 ERA) as their starter. Garcia started 27 games last year and finished the season 5-10 overall with a 4.41 ERA and a 1.41 WHIP.
As a unit, Toronto’s pitchers have given up 3.8 runs per game overall in 2018. Its starters have a 4.58 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 8.9 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has recorded a solid ERA of just 2.38, a WHIP of 1.15 and a K/9 of 9.5.
The Toronto offense is putting up 5.1 runs per outing, including 5.7 per game over its last 10 games and 5.4 per game over its last five. The team has a slash-line of .239/.320/.398 over its last five contests and is 4-1 SU during that span.
Third baseman Yangervis Solarte and first baseman Justin Smoak have led the Blue Jays’ offense this year. Solarte is slashing .286/.423/.500 with 12 hits, four RBIs and seven runs scored, while Smoak’s line is .269/.381/.462 with 14 hits, 10 RBIs and 11 runs.
Solarte did not do as well hitting against lefty pitching at home last year. In 69 such plate appearances, he slashed .136/.261/.136 (his total season line was .255/.314/.416).
For the visitors, Kansas City’s pitching staff allowed 4.5 runs per game and its starting pitchers own a 3.34 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 7.43 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 6.26, along with a K/9 of 6.48.
Royals hitters have slashed .231/.300/.325 on their way to 3.0 runs scored per game in 2018, including 2.8 runs per game over the team’s last 10 games and 2.6 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 .327/.352/.596 with 17 hits, nine RBIs and nine runs scored, while Duda is slashing .282/.349/.436 with 11 hits, two homers, eight RBIs and four runs scored.
Compared to his total season slash line of .217/.322/.496, Duda thrived hitting against left-handed pitchers on the road last year, putting up a slash line of .271/.357/.625 across 56 such plate appearances.
Kansas City Royals vs. Toronto Blue Jays MLB Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Blue Jays, ATS Winner – Royals, O/U – OVER
Notes
Betting Trends
The Royals have lost six of their last seven games SU while the Blue Jays have won four of their last five SU.
Kansas City has posted 18.4 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 contests and 18.6 over its last five.
The Royals have hit four home runs in their last 10 games. The Blue Jays have hit 15 over their last 10.
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