The Kansas City Royals are heading east to square off against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. The game gets underway 7:07 p.m. ET and Fox Sports Kansas City will be televising this AL matchup.
Kansas City Royals at Toronto Blue Jays Odds
Vegas has listed Kansas City (+165) as the underdog to Toronto (-175). Bettors can wager on the game’s total with odds sitting at -110 for over 8.5 runs and -110 for under 8.5. Bettors can also wager on the game’s spread with the current runline odds standing at -135 for the Royals +1.5 runs and +115 for the Blue Jays -1.5.
The Royals have gone only 3-10 SU this year and are 6-7 against the spread (ATS). They’ve lost 6.2 units for moneyline gamblers this year and 3.4 units ATS. Kansas City has covered the spread only twice over its last seven games and the under has hit in four of those seven. The Blue Jays are 9-5 SU and 8-6 ATS. They’ve gained 3.0 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 2.8 units ATS. Toronto has covered the spread four times in its last seven games and the under has cashed in three of those seven.
Blue Jays games have had an over/under record of 5-8-1 so far in 2018. The Royals have an over/under record of 4-9.
The Royals have lost 1.0 units and are 3-2 ATS when facing a lefty starter this season. The over has hit in one of those games, compared to four that’ve gone under against left-handed starting pitchers. On the other hand, the Blue Jays have netted 1.6 units and are 3-1 ATS when facing a left-handed starting pitcher. The over has hit in two of those games, compared to two that’ve cashed the under.
Southpaw Eric Skoglund (0-1, 9.64 ERA) will get the start for the visiting Royals. Skoglund started five games last year and finished the season 1-2 overall with a 9.50 ERA and a 2.33 WHIP.
The Blue Jays are putting the ball in the hands of lefty Jaime Garcia (1-0, 3.18 ERA), who started 27 games last year while finishing the season 5-10 overall with a 4.41 ERA and a 1.41 WHIP.
Toronto’s pitchers have yielded 3.8 runs per game overall this year as a unit. Its starting pitching staff has 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 hitters are putting up 5.1 runs per outing, including 5.7 per game over its last 10 games and 5.4 per game over their last five. The team has hit .239/.320/.398 over its last five games and is 4-1 SU during that span.
First baseman Justin Smoak and third baseman Yangervis Solarte have led the Blue Jays’ batters this year. Smoak is slashing .288/.397/.500 with 15 hits, 10 RBIs and 11 runs scored, while Solarte’s line is .286/.423/.500 with 12 hits, four RBIs and seven runs scored.
Smoak enjoyed hitting against lefty pitching at home last season, slashing .333/.420/.650 in 69 such plate appearances (compared to his total season line of .269/.355/.530).
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 logged an ERA of 6.26, along with a K-per-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 contests (0-5 SU).
Kansas City’s offense has been led by third baseman Mike Moustakas and first baseman Lucas Duda. Moustakas is hitting .327/.352/.596 with 17 hits, nine RBIs and nine runs scored, while Duda (.282/.349/.436) is up to 11 hits, two homers, eight RBIs and four runs scored.
Compared to his overall season slash line of .217/.322/.496, Duda enjoyed hitting against lefties on the road last season, maintaining a slash line of .271/.357/.625 across 56 such plate appearances.
Kansas City Royals vs. Toronto Blue Jays MLB Tip
Predictions: SU Winner – Blue Jays, ATS Winner – Royals, O/U – OVER
Betting Notes
- 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 recorded 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.
