Kansas City Royals vs Toronto Blue Jays Prediction, 9/9/2023 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Kansas City Royals vs Toronto Blue Jays

Date: Saturday, September 9, 2023

Location: Rogers Centre in Toronto, ON

TV: Sportsnet

The Toronto Blue Jays (77-63) host the Kansas City Royals (44-97) at Rogers Centre on Saturday. The expected starting pitchers will be Zack Greinke and Kevin Gausman.

The Royals have hit 231 two-baggers as a squad and have smacked 141 baseballs out of the park. Kansas City is slugging .396 and have been rung up 1,202 times, while drawing a walk on 345 occasions. As a unit, the Kansas City Royals are scoring 4.1 runs per contest, which puts them at 27th in the league. They have tallied 553 RBI's and 1,149 base knocks for the year, while their team batting average is .243. They have accumulated 574 runs scored and have an OBP of .300.

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The Royals have compiled a team earned run average of 5.21 for the season (28th in MLB), and the staff has rung up 1,107 hitters. Royals pitchers have conceded 185 home runs and also 753 runs (28th in MLB). They have walked 473 opposing batters and their FIP is 4.74 as a team so far this season. Kansas City has relinquished 1,255 hits (9.2 per 9 innings) as well as 710 earned runs. They have a K/BB ratio of 2.34 and their pitching staff holds a collective WHIP of 1.41.

The Royals have dispatched 457 relief pitchers to the mound on the campaign. The relief pitchers have inherited 156 runners this year and 37.2% of those runners earned a run for their team. They have compiled 19 saves so far this season and have missed out on 20 out of their 39 save opportunities. The Royals relief pitchers have earned a save rate of 48.7% and stepped onto the hill in 90 save situations. The bullpen have earned 51 holds on the year (29th in baseball). Royals pitchers have entered the game with opponents on base 96 times in addition to having 112 appearances in high leverage situations.

The Kansas City Royals have earned a total of 3,681 putouts this season, in addition to 1,218 assists and 69 errors. Their fielding rate is holding at .986 which has them ranked 12th in MLB, and have accumulated 108 double plays. The Royals have converted 68.3% of balls hit into play into outs out of 11,043 innings, which has them ranked 24th in the majors.

Greinke has taken the mound for 3,370 innings and is sitting with 2,962 punch outs thus far in his career. Greinke (224-155 win-loss mark in his career) has a FIP of 3.52 while he has gone up against 13,798 batters in the major leagues. His ERA is 3.49 (1,308 ER's allowed) and his career WHIP is 1.171. He has given up 3,188 base hits (8.5 hits per nine innings) with 757 walks.

The Toronto Blue Jays have recorded a team on-base percentage of .333 as well as a batting average of .260 for the season. They have been called out on strikes on 1,118 occasions (23rd in baseball) and have a total of 1,253 hits. Toronto has recorded 163 home runs on the year to go along with 614 runs batted in. The Blue Jays hold a slugging percentage of .420 and they have an average of 4.61 runs per contest (15th in the league). They have put up 254 doubles, while walking 477 times as well as recording 645 runs.

The Blue Jays hold a team WHIP of 1.235 with a FIP of 4.06 as a team for the year. They have a ranking of 9th in MLB as a pitching staff in total hits given up with 1,134. The Toronto pitching staff have surrendered 572 runs over the course of the season while having an ERA of 3.72 (516 earned runs surrendered). Their K/BB ratio comes in at 9.40 (1,310 strikeouts against 410 walks). They have yielded 171 long balls and they relinquish 4.12 runs per 9 innings (3rd in baseball).

Toronto relief pitchers have an inherited score percentage of 22.2% out of their 207 inherited base runners. Their relief pitchers have taken the field 168 times in high leverage situations and on 144 occasions with runners on base. Sitting with 154 save situations, the Blue Jays have tallied 91 holds in addition to 16 blown saves. They are ranked 2nd in MLB with a save rate of 74.6%, and they have sent 473 relievers to the mound on the campaign. Toronto has called on bullpen pitchers to take the mound in 63 save chances and they have recorded 47 saves.

In 11,250 innings on the diamond, the Blue Jays have a defensive efficiency of 69.5% (11th in MLB). The Toronto Blue Jays have gotten 107 double plays and have notched a fielding percentage of .987 (10th in pro baseball). The Blue Jays have accrued 1,117 assists, 66 errors and have notched a total of 3,750 putouts on the season.

Gausman (86-90 win-loss mark in his career) has a 3.88 ERA and has given up 8.9 hits per nine innings. His K/BB ratio is 3.77 and he has faced 6,352 hitters during his pro baseball career. He has surrendered a total of 651 ER's while earning a WHIP of 1.269 and a FIP of 3.6. In his career, Gausman has allowed 1,501 hits while tallying 1,573 strikeouts in 1,511 innings pitched.

Who will win tonight's MLB game against the spread or moneyline?

Parlay's Pundit's Pick: Take Toronto

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