Blue Jays vs. Royals Pick
Can the Kansas City Royals stay hot when they host the Toronto Blue Jays once again today at 2:15PM ET?
According to oddsmakers at BetDSI, Toronto is favored on the road, as the Blue Jays are getting odds of -115 to win. The Royals are getting odds of -105 to win, while the over/under total for the game has been set at 9 runs.
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The pitching matchup today has Marco Estrada (4-5, 4.98 ERA) on the mound for Toronto to face Jason Vargas (10-3, 2.27) of the Royals. Estrada is really struggling lately, failing to get through four innings in three of his last four starts. In those four starts he has allowed a combined 23 earned runs. On the year he has 96 strikeouts with 24 walks and a 1.39 WHIP. Vargas has been one of KC’s best arms. He has given up just 22 earned runs this season over 87.1 innings. He has 68 strikeouts with 20 walks and a 1.13 WHIP on the year.
The Royals opened this weekend series with a 5-4 win on Friday. Kansas City has now won nine of its last 11 games to get to .500 on the season. The Royals are 36-36 overall and 20-17 at home while Toronto is 35-38 overall and 16-21 on the road.
Friday’s game saw the Royals score four runs in the ninth to grab the win. A two-run double by Whit Merrifield ended the game. J.A. Happ had a good start for Toronto, allowing just one run over 6.2 innings, but his bullpen imploded in the ninth. Ryan Tepera, Aaron Loup and Jason Grilli combined to allow the four runs in the ninth. Joakim Soria actually got the win despite allowing two runs himself in his lone inning of work. Dwight Smith Jr. had and Jose Bautista each had three hits to lead Toronto in the loss.
The Royals aren’t getting much respect. They weren’t favored on Friday and won to keep rolling along, yet they are an underdog at home again today. I am not sure why. The pitching matchup is clearly in their favor and they are facing a Toronto team that is below .500 overall and on the road. I think Vargas is going to be just fine at shutting Toronto down and the Royals will continue to show their improved hitting.
MLB DAILY PREDICTION: KANSAS CITY ROYALS -105