Friday, July 31, 2015

Rogers Centre

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

Probable Pitchers: Johnny Cueto (0-0) vs. Drew Hutchison (9-2)

The Kansas City Royals visit Rogers Centre on Friday to play the Toronto Blue Jays. The Royals send Johnny Cueto to the mound to face Drew Hutchison of the Blue Jays. The opening line for this matchup has Kansas City at -110 and Toronto at +100. The over/under was set at 8. The Royals, with a 58-42 run line record, cover the spread 57% of the time. They also have a 42-47 over/under record. The Blue Jays are 52-50 against the run line and have a 48-46 over/under record. They cover the spread 52% of the time.

The Royals head into this matchup with a 61-39 record, including 27-21 on the road. Johnny Cueto will be making his debut start for the royals after being traded on Thursday. The bullpen's earned run average is currently 2.18 and they've given up 251 hits on the season. Teams are hitting .203 against the bullpen while being struck out 309 times and walking 111 times this season. As a team, Kansas City has allowed 8.32 hits per nine innings while striking out 6.9 batters per nine. They are 7th in the league in team earned run average at 3.51.

Kansas City ranks 4th in the league in team batting average at .272 while hitting .264 on the road. Ranked at 9th in the league in on-base percentage, the Royals sit at .322 and they hold a .409 team slugging percentage. They rank 4th in baseball with 9.26 hits per game and Eric Hosmer leads the team with 116.

With a 29-20 home record, Toronto will hope to improve on their 51-51 overall mark. Drew Hutchison has a record of 9-2 while sporting an earned run average of 5.42 on the year with a 1.50 WHIP. He's pitched 108 innings thus far while surrendering 128 hits over that time in which the Blue Jays are 13-7. The Blue Jays are also 13-7 against the over/under in his starts. His teammates score an average of 6.9 runs a game when he pitches. The bullpen's earned run average is currently at 3.36 and they have given up 252 hits on the season. Teams are hitting .220 against the Blue Jays bullpen while being struck out 308 times and walking 89 times this season. As a team, Toronto has allowed 8.75 hits per nine innings while striking out 7.07 batters per nine. They are 22nd in the league in team earned run average at 4.02.

They rank 5th in the league in team batting average with a .263 average while hitting .279 at home. Ranked at 2nd in the league in on-base percentage, the Blue Jays sit at .330 and they hold a .442 team slugging percentage. They rank 6th in baseball with 8.9 hits per game and Josh Donaldson leads the team with 114.

The Royals have committed 58 errors and have combined for 996 assists and 2,670 put outs leading to a .984 team fielding percentage. For the home team, they hold a .983 team fielding percentage while committing 63 errors, accumulating 1019 assists and compiling 2,706 put outs.

Kansas City Royals Betting Trends

The Kansas City Royals are 42-47 against the over/under so far this season

The Kansas City Royals are 58-42 against the run line so far this season

Toronto Blue Jays Betting Trends

The Toronto Blue Jays are 48-46 against the over/under so far this season

The Toronto Blue Jays are 52-50 against the run line so far this season

Injuries to Watch

Kansas City Royals

07/22/15 P Jason Vargas Elbow Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (7/22); out for season
07/09/15 LF Alex Gordon Groin Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (7/9)
05/17/15 P Brian Flynn Shoulder Injury is on the 60 day disabled list (5/16)
04/06/15 P Tim Collins Elbow Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (4/6)

Toronto Blue Jays

07/30/15 1B Edwin Encarnacion Finger "?" Friday vs. Kansas City Royals
07/29/15 2B Devon Travis Shoulder out indefinitely
05/10/15 RF Michael Saunders Knee Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (5/10)
04/06/15 2B Maicer Izturis Groin Injury is on the 60 day disabled list (3/27)
04/06/15 P Marcus Stroman Knee Injury is on the 60 day disabled list (4/6)

Josh's Pick: Take the Royals

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