The Toronto Blue Jays (3-3) and the Kansas City Royals (1-5) wrap up a 4-game series Thursday. First pitch at Kauffman Stadium is scheduled for 2:10 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Blue Jays vs. Royals odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.
Season series: Blue Jays lead the series 2-1 in 2023 and won the series 5-2 in 2022.
The Blue Jays snapped a 3-game losing streak with a 4-1 win in Tuesday’s contest. Toronto had allowed an average of 7.8 runs per game across the first 4 games of the season — including 9 runs in 3 of them — but has allowed just 1 total run in the past 2 games after recording a 3-0 shutout on Wednesday.
The Royals exploded for 9 runs in the series opener with the Jays, but Kansas City has already been shut out 3 times through the first 6 games. The Royals are dead-last in scoring with 14 runs, hitting an awful .155 with just 11 extra-base hits.
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Blue Jays at Royals projected starters
RHP Kevin Gausman vs. RHP Jordan Lyles
Gausman (0-0, 0.00 ERA) makes his 2nd start of the season. He conceded 3 R (all unearned) on 8 H and 1 BB with 7 K across 6 IP in a hard-luck loss on the road against the St. Louis Cardinals Saturday.
- Went 8-3 with a 2.30 ERA and 110 K with just 5 HR allowed across 94 IP in 15 road starts in 2022.
- Allowed 2 ER on 7 H and 2 BB with 6 K across 6 IP in a loss at home against the Royals on July 14, 2022, his only start against K.C. last season.
Lyles (0-1, 1.69) makes his 2nd start of the season. He allowed 2 R (1 ER) on 5 H and 2 BB with 2 K across 5 1/3 IP in an 86-pitch appearance Saturday against the Minnesota Twins.
- Posted a 5-3 record and 3.47 ERA with 55 K and just 6 HR allowed across 83 IP, including 1 complete game, in 14 home starts as a member of the Baltimore Orioles in 2022.
- Faced the Jays 3 times in 2022, going 2-1 with a 5.63 ERA with 5 HR allowed in 16 IP
Blue Jays at Royals odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 6 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Blue Jays -200 (bet $200 to win $100) | Royals +165 (bet $100 to win $165)
- Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Blue Jays -1.5 (-115) | Royals +1.5 (-105)
- Over/Under (O/U): 8.5 (O: -115 | U: -105)
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Blue Jays at Royals picks and predictions
Prediction
Blue Jays 5, Royals 2
Moneyline
The Blue Jays (-200) will cost you 2 times your potential return, and that’s too expensive on a team that has struggled to score runs lately. Toronto has posted just 7 total runs in the past 2 games and is averaging just 3.4 runs per game (RPG) across its last 5 outings since posting 10 runs in the regular-season opener last Thursday.
PASS.
Run line/Against the spread
The BLUE JAYS -1.5 (-115) are a much better play on the run line. Toronto has cashed on the run line as a favorite in the past 2 games.
The Royals have been blanked 3 times in 6 games so far, and Kansas City has lost by 2 or more runs in each of its 5 losses.
Over/Under
UNDER 8.5 (-105) is the lean.
Again, Kansas City has been shut out 3 times and is hitting a collective .155 and Toronto has struggled to plate runs consistently, averaging 3.4 RPG across the past 5 outings. The Under has hit in the past 2 games for the Jays, while the Royals have posted just 1 run in those contests.
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