Toronto’s pitching is keeping its playoff hopes alive, but Guerrero, Springer and the rest of the lineup must produce more consistently
For Toronto Blue Jays fans, and for sports bettors looking to put money on them, the season has come down to quality starting pitching, a solid bullpen, and a lot of hope and prayer in the hitting department.
Alejandro Kirk has carried the offence in the second half of the season. Can Vladimir Guerrero Jr. finally figure it out? Does George Springer still have anything left in the tank? Can they get contributions from other parts of the lineup, so the pitchers are preserved more?
Cal Raleigh busted out of a season-long slump with three homers in one game against the Philadelphia Phillies last night, and the Jays are looking for something similar from Guerrero Jr.
Tonight, the Jays (64-68, 33-33 at home) start a three-game series against the Kansas City Royals (58-74, 22-44 away) at Rogers Centre, with 30 games left in their season. This morning, they sit two games out of the last American League wild-card spot.
The tough part of their schedule is over. Over their remaining 10 series, eight of those are against teams currently below them in the standings.
In MLB betting at Betway this morning, the Blue Jays are -130 moneyline favourites for tonight’s game (7:07 p.m. ET), with the Royals at +110. Toronto is -1.5 (+150) on the run line, while Kansas City is +1.5 (-200). The total is 8.5 runs, with the over at -120 and the under at +100.
The Blue Jays start Max Scherzer (1-6, 7.40 ERA) tonight. In his last game against the Tampa Bay Rays, where he went four IP, giving up five hits and seven runs, he was victimized by some shoddy work in left field by Jesus Sanchez. Here’s hoping Jays’ manager John Schneider doesn’t start Sanchez in left field tonight.
The Royals counter with Seth Lugo (5-7, 4.71 ERA).
I’m taking the Blue Jays moneyline, in part because the Royals are atrocious on the road. The Jays are in full playoff mode now, and as I’ve said several times, they are steeled by experience there, having run all the way to the seventh game of the World Series with most of this core last season.
But I’m also taking Royals’ +1.5 runline – with the Royals’ recent hot streak (winners of eight straight) and Scherzer’s age and struggles.
The run line is a safer way to back the hotter team on the road.
I also like Bobby Witt Jr.’s props tonight. He is the Royals’ best player and a consistent threat to record multiple hits and extra bases. At Betway, Witt is +200 to record three or more total bases (hits only). Over 1.5 total bases is +110, with the under at -145, while over 1.5 combined hits, runs and RBIs is -135, with the under at +100. I will grab one of those.
