The Toronto Blue Jays will take on the Kansas City Royals for four games this week. The Blue Jays are coming off a series win over the Padres while the Royals are coming off a series loss to the Orioles.
Toronto Blue Jays (12-10) vs. Kansas City Royals (13-9)
Game 1:
Date: Monday, April 19
Time: 7:40 pm EST
Broadcast: Sportsnet
Game 2:
Date: Tuesday, April 20
Time: 7:40 pm EST
Broadcast: Sportsnet
Game 3:
Date: Wednesday, April 21
Time: 7:40 pm EST
Broadcast: Sportsnet
Game 4:
Date: Thursday, April 21
Time: 2:10 pm EST
Broadcast: Sportsnet
Probable Starting Pitchers
Game 1: Yusei Kikuchi (1-1, 2.08 ERA) vs. Brady Singer (2-0, 1.54 ERA)
Kikuchi this season is 1-1 with a 2.08 ERA, a 2.23 FIP, a 1.15 WHIP, and 29 strikeouts in 21.1 innings. His last start came against the Yankees and he got the win going six innings giving up one run on four hits; he walked one and struck out nine. In his career against the Royals, he has made seven starts going 1-2 with a 6.37 ERA, a 1.48 WHIP, and 26 strikeouts in 29.2 innings. Singer this season is 2-0 with a 1.54 ERA, a 4.06 FIP, a 0.85 WHIP, and 23 strikeouts in 23.1 innings. His last start came against the White Sox going five innings giving up two runs on three hits; he walked three and struck out five. In his career against Toronto in three starts is 2-0 with a 2.25 ERA, a 1.12 WHIP, and 14 strikeouts in 16 innings.
Game 2: Kevin Gausman (0-2, 8.16 ERA) vs. Michael Wacha (1-2, 3.75 ERA)
Gausman this season has struggled, he is 0-2 with an 8.16 ERA, a 4.94 FIP, a 1.74 WHIP, and 16 strikeouts in 14.1 innings. His last start came against the Yankees and he seemed to have figured it over going five innings giving up one run on four hits; he walked three and struck out six. Against the Royals in his career in four starts, he is 2-1 with a 3.09 ERA, a 1.24 WHIP, and 26 strikeouts in 23.1 innings. Wacha is 1-2 with a 3.75 ERA, a 3.28 FIP, a 1.04 WHIP, and 21 strikeouts in 24 innings. His last start came against the White Sox going six innings giving up two runs on four hits; he walked two and struck out four. He is 1-2 against the Blue Jays with a 5.34 ERA, a 1.31 WHIP, and 27 strikeouts in 32 innings.
Game 3: Yariel Rodriguez (0-0, 2.35 ERA) vs. Alec Marsh (3-0, 3.22 ERA)
Rodriguez this season is 0-0 with a 2.35 ERA, a 4.38 FIP, a 1.30 WHIP, and 13 strikeouts in 7.2 innings. In his last start against the Padres, he went four innings giving up one run on three hits; he walked one and struck out seven. He has never faced the Royals in his career. Marsh this season has made four starts he is 3-0 with a 3.22 ERA, a 3.16 FIP, a 1.03 WHIP, and 16 strikeouts in 22.1 innings. In his last start against the Orioles, he went 5.2 innings, he didn’t allow a run on three hits; he walked two and struck out six. In one appearance against Toronto went four innings giving up a run on three hits; he walked two and struck out six.
Game 4: Jose Berrios (4-0, 0.85 ERA) vs. Cole Ragans (0-2, 4.32 ERA)
Berrios this season is 4-0 with a 0.85 ERA, a 3.36 FIP, a 1.01 WHIP, and 27 strikeouts in 31.2 innings. In his last start against the Padres, he went six innings, he didn’t allow a run on five hits; he walked two and struck out six. In 21 starts against the Royals is 7-5 with a 4.72 ERA, a 1.37 WHIP, and 115 strikeouts in 124 innings. Ragans this season is 0-2 with a 4.32 ERA, a 2.05 FIP, a 1.48 WHIP, and 33 strikeouts in 25 innings. In his last start, he went 1.2 innings against Baltimore giving up seven runs on nine hits; he didn’t issue a walk and struck out four. In his lone start against the Blue Jays went 5.2 innings giving up two runs on a hit; he walked six and struck out six.
Toronto Blue Jays vs. Kansas City Royals Leaders
Blue Jays:
AVG – Justin Turner – .308
HR – Daulton Varsho – 5
RBI – Justin Turner – 11
IP – Jose Berrios – 31.2
ERA – Jose Berrios – 0.85
K – Yusei Kikuchi – 29
Royals:
AVG – Salvador Perez – .333
HR – Salvador Perez – 6
RBI – Salvador Perez – 22
IP –Seth Lugo – 31.0
ERA – Brady Singer – 1.54
K – Cole Ragans – 33
Toronto Blue Jays vs. Kansas City Royals Numbers
Blue Jays
AVG: .235 (21)
OPS: .695 (19)
R: 86 (21)
HR: 20 (20)
ERA: 4.41 (24)
K: 197 (11)
WHIP: 1.36 (24)
Royals
AVG: .237 (19)
OPS: .710 (12)
R: 108 (11)
HR: 26 (5)
ERA: 3.18 (5)
K: 162 (28)
WHIP: 1.26 (10)
Wrap Up
The Toronto Blue Jays have hit their stride and are now getting a Kansas City Royals team who despite losing their series to the Orioles have played some good baseball, and rank in the top half of baseball in every offensive category. Coming out of this season with at the minimum a series split would be a good accomplishment.
