2:10 pm
June 8

Blue Jays @ Royals

Who will WIN this matchup?

Toronto Blue Jays (33-22)

@ Kansas City Royals (17-37)

 

Starting Pitchers:

Kikuchi (TOR): 2-2; 3.91 ERA

Singer (KC) 2-1; 4.15 ERA

 

Current odds:

Toronto Blue Jays: (-141)

Kansas City Royals: (+119)

 

• The starting line-up for the Blue Jays is as follows:

 

• The starting line-up for the Royals is as follows:

 

• Kansas City is still looking for its first run of the series. The Royals were shut out 7-0 Tuesday night, following Monday’s 8-0 whitewash, the first time since May 6-7, 2021, that they were shut out in back-to-back games. It was the their major-league-high eighth shutout loss of the season.

• Singer, who had been a starter his whole professional life, was sent to the bullpen coming out of spring training. He didn’t get much work there, so he was sent to Triple-A Omaha on April 28.

• When he returned on May 17, he was ready to prove that he did belong, allowing no runs on four hits in seven innings to get the win in the second game of a doubleheader against the Chicago White Sox. He was sent down again afterward and came back on May 22.

• Through his first three starts back with the parent club, he had allowed three runs on 14 hits with three walks and 20 strikeouts in 19 2/3 innings. That gave him with a 1.36 ERA in that span. It was a pretty good “I told you so” to his teammates, the organization and the fans. In his past two starts, he tapered off a bit, but he believes it was not because of complacency.

• Singer has only faced the Blue Jays once, but it was an impressive start. He threw six scoreless innings in a no-decision, allowing just two hits and striking out six and walking three on April 18, 2021.

• Kikuchi had five strong starts in May, compiling a 2-0 record with a 2.36 ERA. However, in his first start in June, he gave up four runs on seven hits in 4 2/3 innings on Friday against the Minnesota Twins. Kukuchi served up three home runs in the 9-3 loss.

• Kikuchi has struggled in his career against the Royals, compiling an 0-2 record with a 7.58 ERA in four starts, all as a member of the Seattle Mariners. His best outing vs. Kansas City came on April 10, 2019, when he allowed three runs in six innings in a no-decision.

 

5/10
Confidence
StreakSmarter Pick
Toronto Blue Jays
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