Friday, August 5, 2016
Kauffman Stadium
For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here
Probable Pitchers: Francisco Liriano vs. Dillon Gee
The Toronto Blue Jays visit Kauffman Stadium on Friday to play the Kansas City Royals. The probable starters are Francisco Liriano for the Blue Jays and Dillon Gee for the Royals. The Blue Jays have a 43-60-5 over/under record and a 56-52-0 run line mark, meaning they cover 52% of the time. The Royals are 55-52-0 against the run line and have a 47-55-5 over/under record. They cover the spread 51% of the time.
The Blue Jays head into this matchup with a 61-47 record, including 29-23 on the road. Starting pitcher Francisco Liriano has a 6-11 record with an earned run average of 5.46 and a WHIP of 1.62. He has 116 strikeouts over his 113.2 innings pitched and he has given up 115 hits so far this season. He has allowed 9.1 hits per 9 innings and he has a FIP of 5.27. The bullpen this year has an earned run average of 4.01 and they have given up 289 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .247 against the bullpen while being struck out 294 times and walking 85 times this season. As a team, Toronto has allowed 8.13 hits per nine innings while striking out 7.9 batters per nine. They are 6th in the league in team earned run average at 3.75. The Blue Jays pitchers have collectively given up 889 base hits and 410 earned runs. They have allowed 125 home runs this season and they allow 1.1 homers per nine innings as a staff. Toronto as a pitching staff has walked 297 batters and struck out 864. They walk 2.7 men per 9 innings while striking out 7.9 per 9. They have a team WHIP of 1.20 and their FIP as a unit is 4.06.
As a team, Toronto is batting .248, good for 21st in the league while putting together a .235 average away from home. The Blue Jays hold a .434 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .328 which is good for 10th in baseball. They rank 19th in baseball with 8.46 hits per game. Edwin Encarnacion comes into this game hitting .265 and his on-base percentage is at .354. He has 106 hits this season along with 66 runs scored and 90 runs batted in. He's struck out 97 times and has walked 53 times. Josh Donaldson is hitting .299 and he has an on-base percentage of .408. He has totaled 120 hits so far while scoring 89 runs and he's driven in 76. He has walked 70 times and has struck out 79 times. The Blue Jays have 914 hits, including 190 doubles and 155 home runs. They've stolen 33 bases while they've been thrown out stealing 15 times. Toronto has walked 413 times this season and they've struck out 918 times as a unit. They've left 736 men on base and have a team OPS of .762. They score 4.85 runs per contest and have scored a total of 524 runs so far this year.
Kansas City comes into this matchup with a 32-19 home record and a 51-56 overall mark. With an earned run average of 4.66, Dillon Gee has a 3-5 record and a 1.58 WHIP. He has 59 strikeouts over the 73.1 innings he's pitched during which he has given up 92 hits. He has allowed 11.3 hits per nine innings and his FIP stands at 5.11. So far this season the bullpen has an earned run average of 3.41 and they have given up 330 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .244 against the Royals bullpen while being struck out 335 times and walking 125 times this season. As a team, Kansas City has allowed 8.83 hits per nine innings while striking out 8.25 batters per nine. They are 22nd in the league in team earned run average at 4.36. The Royals pitchers as a team have surrendered 922 base knocks and 455 earned runs so far this season. They have given up 145 home runs this year and they give up 1.4 home runs per nine innings as a staff. Kansas City as a staff has walked 342 hitters and struck out 861. They give up a walk 3.3 times per 9 innings while they strike out 8.2 per 9. Their team WHIP is 1.35 while their FIP as a staff is 4.54.
As a team, they are batting .263, good for 6th in the league while putting together a .282 average at home. The Royals hold a .395 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .313 which is good for 22nd in baseball. They rank 9th in baseball with 8.93 hits per contest. Eric Hosmer comes into this matchup batting .277 and he has an OBP of .336. He has 112 hits this year along with 53 runs scored and 59 RBI. He's struck out 90 times and has walked on 36 occasions. Alcides Escobar is hitting .254 and he has an OBP of .281. He has collected 111 hits so far while he's scored 35 runs and drove in 27. He has earned a walk 17 times and has punched out 62 times. The Royals as a unit have 955 base hits, including 177 doubles and 91 homers. They have 64 stolen bases while they've been thrown out 20 times. Kansas City as a team has walked 245 times this year and they have struck out 783 times. They've had 699 men left on base and have an OPS of .708. They score 3.83 runs per game and have totaled 410 runs so far this season.
Toronto Blue Jays Betting Trends
The Toronto Blue Jays are 43-60-5 against the over/under so far this season
The Toronto Blue Jays are 56-52-0 against the run line so far this season
Kansas City Royals Betting Trends
The Kansas City Royals are 47-55-5 against the over/under so far this season
The Kansas City Royals are 55-52-0 against the run line so far this season
Injuries to Watch
Toronto Blue Jays
08/03/16 SS Troy Tulowitzki Thumb probable Thursday vs. Houston Astros
08/02/16 RF Ezequiel Carrera Achilles 15-day DL (8/1)
06/27/16 P Gavin Floyd Shoulder 60-day DL (6/26)
Kansas City Royals
07/31/16 P Wade Davis Hip 15-day DL (7/30)
07/29/16 P Luke Hochevar Shoulder 15-day DL (7/25)
07/19/16 P Kris Medlen Shoulder 60-day DL (5/11)
05/26/16 3B Mike Moustakas Knee 60-day DL (5/23); out for season
04/10/16 P Mike Minor Shoulder 60-day DL (3/15)
04/04/16 P Tim Collins Elbow 60-day DL; out for season
03/31/16 P Jason Vargas Elbow 60-day DL (3/15)
Guy's Pick: Take the Blue Jays
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