I\u2019m not sure where to turn on the betting front, looking at tonight\u2019s Toronto Blue Jays-Royals matchup in Kansas City at 8:10 p.m. EST.<\/p>\n
On the one hand, the Jays are coming off the emotional high, taking two-of-three in their just-completed series in Cleveland against the Guardians.<\/p>\n
As I have said several times over the past few months, what the Jays have over the other teams they are scrapping with in the American League wild-card race \u2013 Cleveland, Texas Rangers, Baltimore Orioles, Minnesota Twins \u2013 is a lineup core with a steely exterior that only comes from the experience of riding all the way to the seventh game of the World Series last fall. You can\u2019t buy that level of experience.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s what a Jays\u2019 core of Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Nathan Lukes, George Springer, Alejandro Kirk, Max Scherzer \u2013 all of them \u2013 have, and they\u2019re tapping into that right now. Those who join the lineup only absorb it. Listening to Dylan Cease talk about the team the other day, who wasn\u2019t part of last year\u2019s run, signing as a free agent, that became ever clearer to me.<\/p>\n
This morning, the Jays sit just 0.5 games out of that third American League wild-card spot, along with Texas. FanGraphs odds have the Jays at 32.3% to make the playoffs.<\/p>\n
However, tonight, factoring in all that, looking to make a few wagers, you still have Jameson Taillon on the mound for Toronto, coming back after three weeks on the injury list with right forearm tendinitis.<\/p>\n
Taillon has struggled this year, with a 5.68 ERA.<\/p>\n
I don\u2019t know what we\u2019re getting out of him tonight, facing Daniel Lynch, a relief pitcher, as the Royals go with a bullpen game. Lynch has been stretched out more by the Royals lately – typically 3-4 innings.<\/p>\n