Kansas City Royals vs Toronto Blue Jays Prediction 4-23-24 Picks
Toronto Blue Jays (13-10) vs. Kansas City Royals (13-10)
April 23, 2024 7:40 pm EDT
The Line: Kansas City Royals +115 / Toronto Blue Jays -125; Over/Under: +9
(Get latest betting odds)
The Toronto Blue Jays and the Kansas City Royals meet Tuesday in MLB action from Kauffman Stadium. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for this game. Here’s a Toronto Blue Jays vs Kansas City Royals prediction.
Toronto Blue Jays Team Preview
The Toronto Blue Jays come into this game fresh off of a 5-3 win over the Royals in Monday’s series opener. The Blue Jays jumped out to an early 3-0 lead and put up two more in the top of the 6th inning and rode that lead to the finish line to start the series off with a bang. Justin Turner, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette each have a team-high 20 hits, with Turner belting 7 doubles, 2 home runs and 11 RBIs while Bichette has 10 RBIs with 5 doubles and 3 stolen bases. Guerrero Jr. has 3 home runs as well with 9 RBIs. Daulton Varsho has a team-high 6 home runs and 13 RBIs as well this season. Kevin Gausman is slated to get the start here and is 0-2 with an 8.16 ERA and 16 strikeouts this season. In his career, Gausman is 2-1 with a 3.09 ERA and 26 strikeouts this season. The Blue Jays will meet the Dodgers after this series.
Toronto Blue Jays Team Facts
- The Blue Jays have won each of their last seven games against the Royals.
- The Blue Jays have covered the run line in each of their last five games against the Royals following a win.
- The ‘Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Blue Jays’ last eight games against American League opponents.
- The Blue Jays have led after 3 innings in each of their last three night games.
- The Blue Jays have led after 7 innings in each of their last seven games against the Royals.
Kansas City Royals Team Preview
The Kansas City Royals come into game two looking to bounce back from their loss to the Blue Jays in Monday’s matchup. The Royals tried staging a late comeback with 3 innings from the bottom of the 6th onward, but it wasn’t enough as they fell short in the end. Bobby Witt Jr. leads the Royals with 28 hits including 4 home runs, 8 RBIs, 3 triples and 7 doubles while Salvador Perez has 6 home runs with a team-high 22 RBIs and 28 hits. Maikel Garcia has 4 home runs with 15 RBIs while Nelson Velazquez has a team-high 25 strikeouts. Michael Wacha will start game two and is 1-2 with a 3.75 ERA and 21 strikeouts this season. In his career, Wacha is 1-2 with a 5.34 ERA and 27 strikeouts this season. The Royals will face the Tigers following this series.
Kansas City Royals Team Facts
- The Royals have won four of their last five games as underdogs following a loss.
- The Royals have covered the run line in eight of their last nine night games following a loss.
- The Royals have led after 3 innings in 15 of their last 22 games as underdogs against American League opponents.
- The ‘Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Royals’ last eight games.
Blue Jays vs. Royals Prediction
I’m on the Royals in this one. I love my Blue Jays as much as the next fan, but let’s face facts. Gausman just isn’t it right now as he’s been getting hit hard left and right and I still truly wonder if he is healthy at all. He had a decent start last time out, but just when it looked like maybe he would turn the corner, the Jays’ bullpen fell apart and let him down late. Wacha hasn’t been a shutdown pitcher by any stretch for the Royals so far, but he’s still one of the best arms they have in that rotation and the bullpen for KC feels a lot more trustworthy at this point. I’ll side with the Royals and the value as the home dog in this one.