The Toronto Blue Jays are going for another series win tonight as they face the Royals in the final game of their set at Kauffman Stadium. Kansas City took the first game 7-1, but the Blue Jays responded with an 8-1 victory last night. This evening's tie-breaker is scheduled to get underway at 8:10pm ET in Kansas City, Missouri.
Toronto Blue Jays vs Kansas City Royals MLB Predictions at Sportsbook.com have the Royals listed as a -146 moneyline favorite. The under, which is set at 8, is being favored at -120 odds.
The Blue Jays' red hot bats came alive again yesterday as they cranked out eight runs in a lopsided affair at Kauffman Stadium. Toronto banged out 14 hits, seven of those coming off the normally reliable Gil Meche in the first three innings. Meche also yielded five earned runs to the Jays before leaving the game with stiffness in his lower back. Aaron Hill continued his torrid hitting, going 3-for-4 with two RBI, as did Vernon Wells, who had three hits and three RBI.
The Royals produced a meager six hits against the surprising Scott Richmond. Richmond improved his season record to 3-0 after giving up just one earned run in seven innings in last night's win.
Toronto regained first place in the AL East with the victory and Boston's loss at Cleveland. They are now 15-7 on the year. Kansas City fell to 10-10 with the defeat, but remained in a second place tie with the White Sox in the AL Central. Both teams are a game behind division leader Detroit.
Toronto, who has not lost a series all year, will attempt to win tonight's rubber match with 31 year old Brian Tallet on the mound. Tallet has made six appearances this season, but just two of those have come as a starter. He is 1-0 with a 0.82 ERA in starts against Oakland and Chicago. The Athletics and White Sox hit a combined .195 against him.
Opposing Tallet and the Jays high scoring offense tonight is right hander Zack Greinke. Greinke has been baseball's best pitcher to this point in the season, going 4-0 in four starts with a 0.00 ERA. The 25 year old has given up 19 hits, no earned runs, and six walks in 29 innings of work. He has struck out 36 batters and challengers have hit a pathetic .186 against him. He currently leads the American League in wins (4), WHIP (0.86), complete games (2), strikeouts (36), win percentage (1.000), and ERA (0.00).
Greinke has worked back to back complete games entering tonight's contest. He gave up seven hits and struck out 10 in a 2-0 win at Texas on April 18th and he fanned 10 Tigers in a three hit effort at Kauffman on April 24th.
Sportsbook.com Toronto Blue Jays vs Kansas City Royals MLB Predictions:
Toronto Blue Jays +1.5 (-160), Over 8 (+100), +136 (Moneyline)
Kansas City Royals -1.5 (+140), Under 8 (-120), -146 (Moneyline)
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