The Toronto Blue Jays are just 10-10 over their last 20 games, but the team made some big moves before the trade deadline to make a push at winning with more consistency. The Blue Jays’ new squad will be put to the test this weekend as it continues its four-game home series against the Kansas City Royals that started on Thursday night.
Kansas City Royals vs. Toronto Blue Jays weekend matchup, betting odds
Acquiring some big players prior to the deadline, the Blue Jays will put their new squad to the test hosting the Royals in baseball odds action.
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The Blue Jays are a +100 home underdog in the second game of the series on Friday night, according to sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com. Drew Hutchison will start against Johnny Cueto, whose Royals opened as a -110 road favorite in this one. Toronto took Game 1 of the series 5-2 after Marco Estrada out-dueled Danny Duffy on Thursday.
Scoring 5.27 runs per game, the Blue Jays already had the best offense in the major leagues by a considerable margin. However, that didn’t stop Toronto from acquiring one of the best bats in baseball this week, making a trade with the Colorado Rockies for shortstop Troy Tulowitzki.
Tulowitzki arrived in style on Wednesday night, going 3-for-5 with three runs, three RBI and a home run in his Blue Jays debut. The Blue Jays’ front office made another huge move on Thursday morning in trading for former Detroit Tigers staff ace David Price.
Toronto wasn’t the only team to add an ace to the top of their staff before the trade deadline, as the Royals added Johnny Cueto in a trade with the Cincinnati Reds. Cueto is set to make his Royals debut on Friday night after posting a sterling 2.62 ERA and 0.93 WHIP in 19 starts with the Reds this season.
Kansas City is 16-7 over its last 23 games according to the OddsShark MLB Database and is in complete control of the AL Central with a 61-40 record.
The OVER is 7-3 in Hutchison’s last 10 starts. Friday night’s total for the Royals vs. Blue Jays betting matchup is set at eight runs at the sportsbooks.
With the Wild Card picture wide open in the American League, Toronto’s moves could put the Blue Jays into serious contention for a playoff spot. Saturday’s starting matchup is expected to be Mark Buehrle against Yordano Ventura, while David Price is set to make his Blue Jays debut on Sunday against Edinson Volquez.
