Monday MLB Odds, Picks & Predictions for Blue Jays vs. Royals: High-Scoring Game On Deck? (June 6)
Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images. Pictured: George Springer
- The Toronto Blue Jays and Tampa Bay Royals open up their MLB divisional series on Monday night.
- The Blue Jays have the more talented roster, but neither starting pitcher inspires much confidence.
- MLB betting analyst Mike Ianniello explains why he's eyeing the game total as his top bet for Blue Jays vs. Royals.
Blue Jays vs. Royals Odds
| Blue Jays Odds | -185 |
| Royals Odds | +150 |
| Over/Under | 10 (-110 / -110) |
| Time | 8:10 p.m. ET |
| TV | MLB.TV |
We are finally starting to see the Blue Jays we expected to see coming into the season. After a slow start, Toronto is 8-2 in its past 10 games. The Jays have moved into second place in the AL East standings, but still sit 7.5 games behind the Yankees.
Toronto does currently hold the top Wild Card spot. Meanwhile, Kansas City doesn’t look like it will be competing for a playoff spot anytime soon. The Royals sit 17-35, the worst record in the league. They have an MLB-worst -81 run differential and are just 3-13 in their past 16 games.
Toronto Blue Jays: Offense Heating Up
After posting a 4.80 ERA in 19 starts last season, Ross Stripling (RHP) has mostly lost his spot in the rotation and has been shifted to the bullpen. He has appeared in 13 games this season, but made just five starts. He is 1-1 with a 4.22 ERA as a starter.
The Toronto lineup started the season surprisingly quiet, but is starting to look more like what we all expected. Over the past two weeks the Blue Jays rank second in the league in wOBA and wRC+. They are averaging 6.3 runs per game over that stretch.
Kansas City Royals: Can Lynch Turn it Around?
25-year-old Daniel Lynch (LHP) is in just his second MLB season and will be making his 25th career start. He is 2-4 this season and has a 4.81 ERA through nine starts. He ranks in the bottom 25% in xBA and HardHit% and has given up a .347 xwOBA to opposing hitters.
Kansas City’s lineup is made up of aging veterans and unproven youngsters — none of whom have performed well this year. The Royals rank just 26th in wOBA and wRC+. Andrew Benintendi is the only regular with a wRC+ over 120 and he is currently day-to-day with calf tightness.
Blue Jays-Royals Pick
Neither of these pitchers inspire any confidence whatsoever. Stripling has basically lost his spot in the rotation and Lynch has a 5.67 ERA over his past six starts.
Toronto has finally kicked its offense into form over the past two weeks and although Kansas City isn’t exactly elite, the Royals have hit the ball better over the past 14 days.
Behind Lynch, the Royals bullpen ranks 28th in the league and has been horrible recently. The Blue Jays will have opportunities to do damage throughout the entire game.
Both teams should have an advantage at the plate over the opposing pitcher so I’ll back over 9.5 at -115 or better.
Pick: Over 9.5 (-115)
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