The opener on Thursday is scheduled for an 8:10 pm ET first pitch with Jakob Junis (0-0, 0.00) on the mound for the Royals against a yet-to-be-named starter for Toronto.
The Blue Jays are now 6-6 on the young season, while the Royals are 6-4 and in first place in the AL Central by a half-game. The Blue Jays had to scratch Ross Stripling against the Yankees on Wednesday, so he could start this contest. They could also turn to Tanner Roark or go with a bullpen game.
Bichette Heading Up For Blue Jays
Toronto won the series finale against the Yankees when Bo Bichette launched a walk-off homer in the ninth. The blast was Bichette’s second of the game and fourth of the season.
Catcher Alejandro Kirk also homered for Toronto on Wednesday, with two of the three shots coming off Yankees starter Corey Kluber.
The heart of the Blue Jays order is off to a great start in 2021. Bichette is batting .327, with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hitting .390 and Randal Grichuk at .310. The trio has also combined for seven homers and 29 RBI in 12 games.
One issue for Toronto has been the top of the order, with George Springer on the injured list and Teoscar Hernandez on the COVID-19 list. New acquisition Marcus Semien is batting just .212 so far in a Toronto uniform, while second baseman Cavan Biggio is hitting .179.
Hot-Hitting Royals
Kansas City used home runs from Salvador Perez and Carlos Santana to beat the Los Angeles Angels 6-1 on Wednesday afternoon. The win clinched the three-game series as the Royals pounded out 11 hits and took advantage of three Angels errors.
Perez is batting .333 on the season with three homers, while leadoff man Whit Merrifield is batting .375. The Wednesday homer was the second of the season for Santana, who is batting just .171.
The Royals have yet to get much out of designated hitter Jorge Soler, who is batting .129 with one homer and 18 strikeouts in 33 at-bats.
Last time out, Junis threw five shutout innings on 58 pitches against the Cleveland Indians. This will be his fourth outing of the season and second start. So far in 2021, he has thrown seven shutout innings with nine strikeouts and two walks.
Bichette and Semien both have home runs off Junis in their careers. Bichette is 2-for-4 against the right-hander, while Semien is 5-for-12.
Betting Analysis
The Royals are 10th in the league in team batting average and are swinging the bats well at home with a .275 average in six games. Toronto’s team ERA is fifth in the league, but it just put closer Julian Montgomery on the injured list with an oblique strain, and the bullpen was taxed in the Yankees series.
Not having a reliable starter for this game puts the Blue Jays at a disadvantage, but they have the bats to keep pace with the Royals.
Free Pick: Take the Over
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