MLB Betting Preview (April 23): Blue Jays vs. Royals predictions

Photo credit:© Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

3 days ago

The Toronto Blue Jays will continue their four-game series with the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium on Tuesday night after taking the series opener Monday by a score of 5-3.

With the win, Toronto now has seven victories in its last nine games to move three games over .500 in the competitive American League East. Yusei Kikuchi threw six solid innings of two-run ball for the Blue Jays on Monday and Daulton Varsho launched his sixth homer of the young season to help lift Toronto to victory.

The Royals have dropped three straight games entering play Tuesday and their bats have gone cold over the last two, producing just three runs on 13 hits. They were shut out by the Baltimore Orioles on Sunday in a 5-0 loss.

Let’s take a look at the game odds for Tuesday’s clash between the Blue Jays and Royals via bet365:

Blue Jays vs. Royals odds

Blue Jays Moneyline Odds	-120
Royals Moneyline Odds	+100
Runline Odds	Blue Jays -1.5 (+135), Royals +1.5 (-160)
Over/Under	Over 8 runs (-120), Under 8 runs (+100)
Time/Date	April 23, 7:40 p.m. ET
TV	Broadcast: Sportsnet 1, Sportsnet+

Betting Toronto Blue Jays (13-10 SU, 14-9 ATS, 10-13 o/u)

The Blue Jays have secured four consecutive series wins and they’re well on their way to another series victory against the Royals after Monday’s victory in the opener of the four-game set. Toronto improved to 10-1 this season when it scores five or more runs, but the team has exceeded five runs in just three of its 23 contests to this point. Steady winds were blowing out at Kauffman Stadium Monday night, which surely aided the three balls that left the park between the two teams.

One of those long balls came off the bat of Varsho, who now has six homers in his last 10 games. After failing to drive in a run in his first 13 games, the Blue Jays outfielder has 13 RBIs in his last nine starts and all but two of his last 11 hits have gone for extra bases.

Toronto’s pitching is also coming around after a mediocre start, allowing just 14 total runs in the team’s last seven victories.

Betting Kansas City Royals (13-10 SU, 13-10 ATS, 8-14-1 o/u)

The Royals have lost three straight home games after posting nine straight victories at Kauffman Stadium, but they’ve scored 80 runs in 14 home games (5.7 per game) despite struggling offensively in their last two at their home venue.

Catcher Salvador Perez is the team’s hottest bat, coming off a two-hit performance in Monday’s series opener. The veteran catcher is slashing .341/.400/.598 with six homers and 22 RBIs in 22 games.

The Royals are averaging 1.2 home runs per game (third in majors) and they boast a .407 slugging percentage (seventh in MLB) as a team.

Probable starting pitchers

Toronto: RHP Kevin Gausman (0-2, 8.16 ERA, 10.05 K/9, 1.74 WHIP)

It’s been a rocky start to the season for the reigning American League strikeout leader. Gausman threw five innings of one-run ball with six strikeouts last time out against the New York Yankees, but he also issued three walks while tossing 101 pitches. His previous two starts were dreadful, surrendering a total of 14 hits and 11 earned runs in short outings against the Colorado Rockies and aforementioned Yankees. Gausman, whose opponents are hitting a lofty .328 against him through four starts, missed nearly all of spring training with right shoulder fatigue, so it remains to be seen if he’s still shaking the rust off or if the 33-year-old hurler is in decline.

Kansas City: RHP Michael Wacha (1-2, 3.75 ERA, 7.88 K/9, 1.04 WHIP)

Wacha, who signed a one-year deal with a player option for 2025 with the Royals this winter, has been effective in his four starts with Kansas City. The veteran righty allowed two runs on four hits last time out against the lowly Chicago White Sox, one start after the New York Mets roughed him up for five earned runs on 10 hits. He hasn’t fared well in the past against Toronto, pitching to a 1-2 record with a 5.24 ERA across seven career starts.

Weather

Forecasts are calling for evening temperatures around 19 C with clear skies. Winds will be light at 10 mph, blowing from left field to right field.

MLB betting trends

The Blue Jays have won 10 of the 13 games (76.9%) they’ve been favoured in this season.
The under is 6-2 in the Royals’ last eight games.
The under is 3-1 in Toronto’s last four games.
The Royals have been underdogs in 14 games and have won seven (50%) times this season.

MLB player prop trends

Royals first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino extended his hitting streak to 11 games Monday with an infield single. He’s -180 to get a hit, but he’s just 1-for-6 in his career vs. Gausman.
Wacha has exceeded his posted strikeout total of 3.5 in seven straight games dating back to last season, averaging 5.7 per game during that span. He’s -155 to post at least four strikeouts.
Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. has failed to post 1.5 total bases or more in four of his last five games. He’s -115 to come under that mark again and is 2-for-9 in his career with a home run against Gausman.

Blue Jays vs. Royals predictions

Royals outfielder Garrett Hampson sees Gausman very well and could be a profitable play in a few betting markets on Tuesday. He’s 6-for-15 (.400) with three homers and four RBIs against the Blue Jays righty. Bet365 hasn’t posted any player props for Hampson as of Tuesday morning, but be sure to check back later in the day and consider his hits, total bases, and home run odds.
Bo Bichette (4-for-11, 1 HR, 5 RBIs) and Justin Turner (6-for-14, 2 RBIs) have had success against Wacha in the past. Bichette is -115 to record over 1.5 total bases and Turner is +120.
As previously mentioned, Wacha’s strikeouts prop is listed low at 3.5 and there’s sufficient data to back an over play here at -155 odds.
If you want to back Varsho’s hot bat, you can grab him at -145 to get a hit and +500 to homer.

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