Blue Jays vs. Royals Prediction, Odds & Props for Sept. 4: Toronto Stays Hot

In the opener of an AL series on Friday night, the Kansas City Royals host the streaking Toronto Blue Jays. Let’s get into it in this Blue Jays vs. Royals prediction, where you will find game info, the starting pitching matchup, the latest odds, and some good value player prop bets.

The Blue Jays (70-71) have won two in a row and five of their last six games. They recently climbed out of the basement of the AL East, and while out of that division race, they are tied with the Texas Rangers, only half a game out of the last AL Wild Card.

The Royals (63-78) had lost three in a row before winning their last game to avoid a series sweep.

Betway has the Royals as slight favorites at -115 with the Blue Jays at +105 and a total of 9.5 runs.

Blue Jays Getting Closer

In their last series, the Blue Jays took two of three games from the Cleveland Guardians, who they are only a half-game back of for the final AL Wild Card. In the series finale, Toronto won 6-3, where Nathan Lukes had a two-run double in the four-run fifth inning, and five other players had one RBI.

The Blue Jays rank a solid ninth in team ERA, and while ranking second-to-last in runs scored, they have scored 17 runs in their last two games and have averaged 7.2 runs in their five wins over their last six games.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (.260, 8 home runs, 54 RBIs) has eight RBIs over the last six games and had six in the last series.

Late last month at home, the Blue Jays lost two of three games against the Royals.

Toronto Starter for Series Opener 

Jameson Taillon (2-6, 5.68 ERA, 1.37 WHIP) goes for the birds and is just off the injured list and will make his first start since August 11. He has only two starts for the Blue Jays after coming in a trade with the Chicago Cubs, lasting four innings in both; in the first, he gave up three runs, and in the second, he allowed none. On the season, Taillon has worked 84 innings, striking out 75 and walking 26.

Better Pitching Leads to Kansas City Win

The Royals had given up a total of 26 runs in losing three in a row, but got better pitching in their last game in a 7-3 win over the Miami Marlins to avoid a series sweep. In the win, Carter Jensen was 3 for 4 with a home run and three RBIs, Jac Caglianone had two RBIs, and Salvador Perez had a solo home run.

This season, KC only ranks 21st in runs scored and 28th in team ERA.

Caglianone (.284, 23 home runs, 69 RBIs) leads the club in batting average, home runs, and RBIs, has three RBIs in the last two games, and the last time facing the Blue Jays late last month had a home run and six RBIs in a 13-2 rout. Jensen (.231, 22 home runs, 67 RBIs) ranks second in home runs and RBIs and is swinging a hot bat with six hits in the last three games with two home runs and six RBIs.

Kansas City Starter for Series Opener 

Daniel Lynch IV (4-4, 3.06 ERA, 1.05 WHIP) gets the nod for the Royals, who have won his last three starts where he totaled `11 2/3 innings and gave up five runs. This will be only his sixth start of the season, as he has mainly worked out of the bullpen; this season, he has logged 61 2/3 innings, striking out 46 and walking 19.

Blue Jays vs. Royals Prediction 

Blue Jays ML Betway, +105

The Blue Jays have been playing well, winning five of six games, as they push for the playoffs. On the other side of the coin, the Royals are pretty much out of the playoff picture, 7.5 games out of the last Wild Card, and snapped a three-game losing streak in their last game. Lynch IV has been decent in his last three starts but has mainly been a reliever, and his longest outing this season is 4 1/3 innings. He will hand the ball off to a KC bullpen that ranks second-to-last in the Majors in bullpen ERA.

Taillon will be decent in his return from the IL, and with the Toronto lineup continuing to get it done at the dish, they will get the win in this series opener.

Player Prop Bets 

Here are some player prop bets at Betway that we think have good value:

• Daniel Lynch IV Under 12.5 outs recorded: Betway, -104 – Lynch IV has not recorded over 12.5 outs in any of his five starts this season.
• Jameson Taillon Over 2.5 strikeouts: Betway, -129 – While Taillon has only lasted four innings in each of his starts for the Blue Jays, he struck out four in the first start and three in the second.
• Carter Jansen Over 1.5 total bases: Betway, -102 – Jansen has been swinging a hot bat and in the last game had nine total bases, falling a single shy of hitting for the cycle.