MLB Pick: Kansas City Royals at Toronto Blue Jays

The Kansas City Royals are in Toronto Again today for the second game of their three game series with the Blue Jays. The Blue Jays scored 5 runs in the bottom of the 7th in yesterdays game on the way to a 6-2 win. This has been a fairly even series overall of late with each team winning 10 of the last 20 meetings but the Jays have played the Royals well at home winning 8 of the last 10 meetings played in Toronto.

Head to Head Trends

Royals are 2-8 in the last 10 meetings in Toronto.
Home team is 58-28 in Rackleys last 86 games behind home plate.

Toronto Blue Jays (-175)

The Toronto Blue Jays are 3rd in the American League East just 2.5 games back of the 1st place Baltimore Orioles. The Blue Jays have played some solid ball all season but it does look like they’re getting stronger as the season goes on winning 27 of their last 43 games.

The Blue Jays may not seem like it but they’re actually a good well rounded team. The Blue Jays have one of the best offenses in baseball averaging 4.89 runs per game and they also have a surprisingly good pitching staff who are actually tied for the second best ERA in the American League at 3.87.

On the hill for the Blue Jays today is the knucklerballer R.A. Dickey who is 5-9 with a 4.21 ERA on the season. Dickey had a slow start to the season but he has been pitching much better of late with 4 quality starts over his last 6 outings.

Toronto Blue Jays Trends

Blue Jays are 13-3 in their last 16 games vs. a starter with a WHIP greater than 1.30.
Blue Jays are 1-10 in Dickeys last 11 home starts.

Kansas City Royals (+165)

The Kansas City Royals are 3rd in the American League Central 7 games back of the 1st place Cleveland Indians. The Royals are a hot and cold type team. They have had several hot stretches where they would win 7 of 8 or 8 of 9 games but then they will lose 8 of their next 10 games so not a very consistent team.

Starting for the Royals in this one is the big man Chris Young who is 2-7 with a 6.24 ERA on the season. Over the last few seasons Young was a pitcher I would like to bet because he was always underrated but not so much this season as he’s been a total gas can.

Kansas City Royals Trends

Royals are 1-11 in their last 12 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
Royals are 1-5 in Youngs last 6 road starts.

Free Game Pick

I’m going with the Blue Jays over the Royals again today. This is a definite fade of Chris Young as he’s been absolutely horrible this season. Young has allowed 22 homeruns in just 57 innings of work so I really don’t see things going all that well for him tonight in a hitters ballpark versus one of the best homerun hitting teams in the league.

Free Pick: Toronto Blue Jays -175