The Toronto Blue Jays and the Kansas City Royals meet Saturday 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.
Starting Pitching Matchup
The Toronto Blue Jays will send out Shane Bieber for the start here and Bieber is 3-1 with a 3.72 ERA and 30 strikeouts this season. In his last five starts against the Royals, Bieber is 2-1 with a 1.80 ERA and 28 strikeouts. Noah Cameron will get the start for the Royals here and is 8-7 with a 2.98 ERA and 103 strikeouts this season. This will be Cameron’s second career start against the Royals.
Toronto Blue Jays Recap
The Toronto Blue Jays come into this game looking to rebound from a 20-1 beatdown loss to the Royals to start the series, sitting at 89-65 on the year. After this series, the Blue Jays will take on the Boston Red Sox in a division series at home.
Blue Jays Lose Three In A Row
George Springer has 140 hits and Bo Bichette has 181 hits with Springer adding 29 home runs, a triple, 23 doubles and 78 RBIs while Bichette has 44 doubles, 18 home runs and 94 RBIs. Andres Gimenez has added 64 hits with 9 doubles and 7 home runs and 30 RBIs this season along with 12 stolen bases. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. also has 23 homers, 33 doubles and 81 RBIs while Springer also has a .302 batting average and 104 strikeouts up to this point in the year. Addison Barger’s chipped in 30 doubles with 20 home runs and 72 RBIs and Ernie Clement’s added 33 doubles as part of his 144 hits this season.
Why the Toronto Blue Jays will win
- The Royals have lost each of their last 10 Saturday games against AL East opponents that held a winning record.
- The Blue Jays have won six of their last seven games against AL Central opponents following a loss.
- The Royals have failed to cover the run line in seven of their last eight home games following a win.
- The Blue Jays have covered the run line in four of their last five road games against AL Central opponents following a loss.
Toronto Blue Jays Player Prop Facts
- Ernie Clement has recorded a Double in four of the Blue Jays’ last five games as favorites.
- Shane Bieber has recorded eight or more strikeouts in four of his last five road appearances.
- Shane Bieber has recorded a win in each of his last four road appearances.
- Daulton Varsho has hit at least one home run in seven of his last 12 appearances with the Blue Jays as road favorites.
- Bo Bichette has recorded at least one hit in each of his last 15 appearances with the Blue Jays as favorites against AL Central opponents.
- George Springer ranks 3rd amongst qualified players for On Base Percentage (.394) this season.
Kansas City Royals Recap
The Kansas City Royals come into this game looking to add on to their big win over Toronto from Friday’s matchup to improve to 77-77 this season. After this set, the Royals will take on the Los Angeles Angels in a road series.
Royals Looking To Build Some Momentum
Bobby Witt Jr. has 166 hits with 41 doubles and 36 stolen bases along with 6 triples, 22 home runs and 79 RBIs while Vinnie Pasquantino has 151 hits with 27 doubles, a triple, 30 home runs and 104 RBIs. Maikel Garcia’s added 161 hits with 36 doubles, 5 triples, 16 home runs and 70 RBIs and 23 stolen bases and Salvador Perez also has 34 doubles, 28 home runs and 89 RBIs but also has 115 strikeouts so far this season.
Why the Kansas City Royals will win
- The Blue Jays have lost seven of their last eight games as road favorites against American League opponents.
- The Royals have won each of their last four games as home underdogs against the Blue Jays.
- The Blue Jays have failed to cover the run line in each of their last 10 games as road favorites against American League opponents.
- The Royals have covered the run line in nine of their last 10 games against the Blue Jays.
Kansas City Royals Player Prop Facts
- Michael Massey has hit a home run in each of his last three appearances against the Blue Jays.
- Vinnie Pasquantino has recorded at least one Double in four of the Royals’ last five games as underdogs.
- Salvador Perez has recorded at least one hit in each of the Royals’ last 12 games against the Blue Jays.
- Bobby Witt Jr. ranks 3rd in the league in Hits (171) this season.
Total Runs Facts
- Seven of the Blue Jays’ last eight games against AL Central opponents have gone OVER the total runs line.
- Each of the Royals’ last five games against AL East opponents have gone OVER the total runs line.
Toronto Blue Jays vs. Kansas City Royals Prediction
I’m on the Blue Jays here. I get the case to be made for Kansas City after a big offensive showing on Friday, but I kind of wonder if they used up all their runs on Friday and now face a pitcher in Bieber who is really familiar with this lineup from his time in Cleveland and Bieber had a lot of success in the matchup. Noah Cameron got hit hard bit Toronto in his first start against them, and I think Toronto bounces back here. Give me the Jays.