In Game 2 of their doubleheader, the Kansas City Royals are set to take the field against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. The game gets underway 6:37 p.m. ET and Fox Sports Kansas City will broadcast this AL matchup.
Kansas City Royals at Toronto Blue Jays Odds
Oddsmakers are listing Toronto (-190) as the favorite over Kansas City (+180). The total sits at 8.5 runs and bettors can wager on the over for -120 and the under for even money (+100). Bettors can also wager on the game’s runline with the odds standing at -125 for the Royals +1.5 runs and +105 for the Blue Jays -1.5.
The Royals are only 3-10 SU and have gone 6-7 against the spread (ATS). They’ve lost 6.2 units for moneyline gamblers in this young season and 3.4 units ATS. Kansas City has covered the spread just twice over its last seven games and the total has gone under in four of those seven. The Blue Jays, on the other hand, are 9-5 SU and 8-6 ATS. The team’s gained 3.0 units for moneyline bettors and 2.8 units ATS. Toronto has covered the spread four times in its last seven games and the total has gone under in three of those seven.
Blue Jays games have a 5-8-1 over/under record thus far in 2018. Royals games have gone under nine times, gone over four times and pushed on zero instances.
Danny Duffy (0-2, 5.40 ERA) will get the nod for the visiting Royals. The southpaw Duffy started 24 games last year and finished the season 9-10 overall with a 3.81 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP.
The Blue Jays will put the ball in the hands of righty Joe Biagini, who started 18 games last year and finished the season 3-13 overall with a 5.34 ERA and a 1.40 WHIP.
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 WHIP of 1.20.
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 (.282/.349/.436) has produced 11 hits, two homers, eight RBIs and four runs scored.
For the home team, Toronto’s pitchers have allowed 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 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 contest, 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 contests and is 4-1 SU during that span.
Third baseman Yangervis Solarte and first baseman Justin Smoak have led the Blue Jays’ batters this year. Solarte is slashing .286/.423/.500 with 12 hits, four RBIs and seven runs scored, and Smoak’s line sits at .269/.381/.462 with 14 hits, 10 RBIs and 11 runs scored.
Compared to his total season slash line of .255/.314/.416, Solarte didn’t seem to enjoy batting against lefties at home last year, slashing .136/.261/.136 over 69 such plate appearances.
The Royals have lost 5.2 units and are 3-5 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher this season. The over has hit in three of those games, compared to five that’ve hit the under in such games. 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, as opposed to two that’ve cashed the under.
Kansas City Royals vs. Toronto Blue Jays Free 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 posted 18.4 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 outings 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.
