The Kansas City Royals are set to host the Toronto Blue Jays at Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium. The game gets underway 8:15 p.m. ET and Fox Sports Kansas City will showcase this AL matchup.
Toronto Blue Jays vs. Kansas City Royals Odds
Toronto (-130) is favored against Kansas City (+120) and oddsmakers have set the Over/Under for this night game at 9 runs. The odds for wagering on the game’s total stand at -110 for both the over and the under. Bettors can also wager on the game’s runline with the current odds sitting at +115 for the Blue Jays -1.5 runs and -135 for the Royals +1.5 runs.
The Royals are 36-83 straight up (SU) and 53-65 against the spread (ATS). They’ve lost 30.7 units for moneyline bettors and 21.9 units (ATS). Kansas City has covered the spread just twice in its last seven games and the under has hit in four of those seven. The Blue Jays have gone 54-65 SU this year and are 51-67 ATS. Overall, the team’s lost 9.6 units for moneyline bettors and 25.8 units ATS. Toronto has covered the spread only once in its last seven games and the under has cashed in four of those seven.
Royals games have a 50-61-7 over/under record in 2018. Blue Jays games have gone over 59 times, gone under 51 times and pushed on eight occasions.
Marco Estrada is getting the start for Toronto. The right-handed Estrada is 5-9 with a 4.84 ERA and 80 strikeouts. He has yet to face the Royals this year and only made one start against them in 2017 (0-1, 3.86 ERA and six strikeouts across seven innings).
The Royals are sending righty Burch Smith (1-4, 6.97 ERA) to the mound. Smith has 59 strikeouts and 30 walks to his name, as well as a WHIP of 1.60. Smith is 0-0 with four strikeouts and a 0.00 ERA against Toronto this year.
As a unit, Kansas City’s pitching staff has allowed 5.5 runs per game overall this year. Its starters have an ERA of 5.30, a WHIP of 1.47 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 7.4. The bullpen has a 5.35 ERA, 1.54 WHIP and 7.1 K/9.
The Kansas City offense has produced 3.7 runs per outing, including 3.0 per game over its last 10 games and 2.6 per game over its last five. The team has hit .231/.326/.333 over its last five games and is 1-4 SU during that span.
The Royals’ offense has been led by second baseman Whit Merrifield and third baseman Mike Moustakas. Merrifield is hitting .299/.367/.418 with seven home runs, 38 RBIs, 55 runs and 26 stolen bases, and Moustakas is hitting .249 with 20 homers, 62 RBIs and 46 runs.
In the other dugout, Toronto’s pitchers have allowed 5.1 runs per game and its starters own a 4.86 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and 7.80 K/9. The bullpen has logged an ERA of 4.51, along with a K-per-9 of 9.23.
Blue Jays hitters have slashed .242/.315/.424 on their way to 4.4 runs scored per game this year, including 3.8 runs per game over the team’s last 10 games and 2.0 per game over the team’s last five contests (2-3 SU).
Toronto’s hitters have been paced by first baseman Justin Smoak and third baseman Yangervis Solarte, who’ve collectively swatted 35 home runs. Smoak is slashing .259/.367/.476 with 18 home runs, 59 RBIs and 50 runs scored, while Solarte is slashing .233/.287/.397 with 17 homers, 53 RBIs and 50 runs scored.
The Blue Jays have gained 4.5 units and are 33-42 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher this year. The over has cashed in 39 of those games, as opposed to 32 that’ve hit the under in such games. On the other hand, the Royals have lost 27.3 units and are 32-47 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher. The over has hit in 37 of those games, compared to 37 which went under the total.
Toronto Blue Jays at Kansas City Royals MLB Prediction
Predictions: SU Winner – Blue Jays, ATS Winner – Blue Jays, O/U – OVER
