Toronto Blue Jays at Kansas City Royals - Game 2 4/17/21 MLB Picks and Prediction
Photo by Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Kansas City Royals (7-4) vs Toronto Blue Jays (6-7)
Game Info: Saturday, April 17, 2021 at 6:10 pm (Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium)
Mike Minor (1-0) (4.50) vs Steven Matz (2-0) (1.46)
Betting Odds: Kansas City Royals +120 / Toronto Blue Jays -130 --- Over/Under: 9 Click Here for the Latest Odds
The Kansas City Royals will host the Toronto Blue Jays in an AL showdown on Saturday night. It will be the second game of a four-game set at Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium.
Kansas City took the first game 7-5. Jakob Junis got the win, tossing 5 innings and allowing 2 runs with 6 strikeouts. From the dish the Royals had 9 hits and were 2-9 with runners in scoring position. Hunter Dozier led the way, going 2-4 with an RBI and a run scored. To start the season, the Royals have a .247 team batting average and .702 OPS. Whit Merrifield leads the team with a .364 batting average,1.014 OPS, 3 home runs and 11 RBI.
The Royals will start lefty Mike Minor on Friday night. To start the season, he is 1-0 with a 4.50 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 9 strikeouts. In his career against this Blue Jays lineup, he has allowed a .114 batting average with 0 home runs in 38 at bats.
Toronto lost the first game after a poor performance from starter Anthony Kay. He went 3.1 innings, allowing 5 runs on 6 hits. Form the dish they had 10 hits and were 2-11 with runners in scoring position. Vlad Guerrero Jr. hit a solo shot for his 3rd home run of the season. To start the year, the Blue Jays have a .239 team batting average and .704 OPS. Guerrero leads the team with a .390 batting average and 10 RBI.
Starting for the Blue Jays on Friday will be lefty Steven Matz. To start the season, he is 2-0 with a 1.46 ERA, 0.89 WHIP and 13 strikeouts. Of the current Royals he has only faced 4 batters, with most of the experience against Carlos Santana and Michael Taylor. They have gone a combined 6-39 against him with 2 home runs.
The Blue Jays are 5-5 in their last 10 games, 5-5 on the run line, and the under is 6-4.
The Royals are 6-4 in their last 10 games, 6-4 on the run line, and the under is 6-3-1.
This matchup features two lefty starters, and the Royals have been slightly better against them to start the season. They have a .292 average and .846 OPS with 17 runs, compared to Toronto’s .243/.654/11. Steven Matz has been off to a good start, but Mike Minor has had success against these Blue Jays in the past. I like the home dogs here. Give me the Royals to win.
Joe’s Pick Kansas City Royals +120
AUTHOR: Joe Bonomo
Mitch's Take...
