Tuesday, April 29, 8:10 PM on RSN, FSKC

Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

Toronto Blue Jays - McGowan, D (1-1) vs. Kansas City Royals - Vargas, J (2-0)

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

Tuesday night, Dustin McGowan and the Toronto Blue Jays will take on Jason Vargas and the Kansas City Royals.   McGowan will be making his 5th start as Vargas makes his 6th. 

Dustin McGowan comes into this one after pitching his 2nd straight no decision.  In his last start, McGowan went just 4 innings and allowed 6 runs on 5 hits (including 2 homers) with a walk and 5 strikeouts.  With a line like that, McGowan was lucky to have escaped the loss.  Last season, McGowan made 25 relief appearances without a decision and an ERA of 2.45. 

In 2013, McGowan pitched just 1 inning against the Royals.  And in his career, he has only faced 6 players on the Kansas City roster.  Of those, Alex Gordon is 4 of 7 with a triple, a homer and 2 RBIs against McGowan.

Jason Vargas is 2 – 0 with an ERA of 1.54 after pitching to a no decision in his last start.  In that outing, Vargas went 6 innings and gave up 3 runs and 6 hits with 2 walks and 2 strikeouts.  Vargas has been solid so far but he has thrown an average of 108.2 pitches in each of his 5 starts and that could be an issue as the season continues.   Last season, Vargas averaged 99.4 pitches per start as he went 9 – 8 with an ERA of 4.02 in 24 starts for the Los Angeles Angels.

In 2013, Vargas didn’t face the Blue Jays but he has seen many on the Toronto roster in his career.  Toronto’s Edwin Encarnacion is batting .333 with 2 home runs and 5 RBIs when facing Vargas.   

Toronto Blue Jays Betting Trends

Toronto Blue Jays are 14-11-0 against the Over/Under

Run Differential for Toronto Blue Jays is 0

Kansas City Royals Betting Trends

Kansas City Royals are 10-13-1 against the Over/Under

Run differential for Kansas City Royals is 0.2

Injuries to Watch

Toronto Blue Jays

04/19/14 1B Adam Lind Back 15-day DL (4/16)
04/14/14 2B Maicer Izturis Knee 60-day DL (4/14)
03/31/14 P Casey Janssen Shoulder 15-day DL (3/29)

Kansas City Royals

04/18/14 CF Lorenzo Cain Groin 15-day DL (4/17)
04/09/14 P Francisley Bueno Finger 15-day DL (4/7)
04/09/14 P Tim Collins Elbow 15-day DL (4/7)
03/30/14 P Luke Hochevar Elbow 15-day DL (3/21)

Tony's Pick: Take Kansas City

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