PREMIUM
Rogers' 10* Coach's Clinic >> *RED HOT* 15-7 Overall Last 6 Days!
(MLB) Toronto vs. Kansas City,
Money Line: -131.00 Toronto (Away)
Result: Loss
Money Line: -131.00 Toronto (Away)
Result: Loss
The set-up: The Toronto Blue Jays and the Kansas City Royals open a three-game series Friday night at Kauffman Stadium. The 35-36 Royals have won nine of 11 contests to move within one game of .500 while the 35-37 Blue Jays never seem to to able to get their record to the break-even mark in 2017 (more on that later). KC opened the week by taking two of three from the Red Sox and now close a six-game homestand with this three-game series with the Jays, who settled for a split of their four-game series in Texas following Thursday's 11-4 setback
The pitching matchup: J.A. Happ (2-4 & 4.26 ERA) takes the mound for Toronto up against Jake Junis (2-1 & 5.56 ERA) of KC. Happ is coming off a career season in 2016 (20-4) and now, after a slow start in 2017 (slowed by a stay on the DL due to elbow inflammation), has won back-to-back outings. The 34-year-old lefty first scattered six hits and struck out eight over six innings in a 4-0 victory at Seattle on June 11 and then struck out nine in 6 2/3 innings of a 7-2 triumph versus the Chicago White Sox this past Sunday. "I feel like the last two have been a lot better," Happ said. "I feel like I'm staying in my lanes a little better on each side of the plate, more consistently. That's a good sign for me and there's been a little bit more life to my fastball as well." Happ is 2-2 with a 5.96 ERA in four starts against the Royals in his career but has not faced them since 2014. Junis is a rookie and he'll be making his seventh career appearance and fifth start on Friday since being called up in early June. He sustained his first loss of the season last Saturday, after allowing five runs on eight hits (including two HRs) in 5 1/3 innings against the Los Angeles Angels.
The pick: The Royals are hot (see above) but the Jays have won nine of their last 11, have not lost a series this month and are 13-6 in June. Happ seems to have found his groove and one has to like him over the rookie Junis who owns a 1.76 WHIP and .304 opponents BA to go along with his 5.56 ERA. Yes, the Blue Jays are 0-9 when trying to reach .500 in 2017 (getting outscored 73-24 in those nine losses) but at two games under .500 entering tonight's game, that doesn't apply. Make Toronto a 10* play.
The pitching matchup: J.A. Happ (2-4 & 4.26 ERA) takes the mound for Toronto up against Jake Junis (2-1 & 5.56 ERA) of KC. Happ is coming off a career season in 2016 (20-4) and now, after a slow start in 2017 (slowed by a stay on the DL due to elbow inflammation), has won back-to-back outings. The 34-year-old lefty first scattered six hits and struck out eight over six innings in a 4-0 victory at Seattle on June 11 and then struck out nine in 6 2/3 innings of a 7-2 triumph versus the Chicago White Sox this past Sunday. "I feel like the last two have been a lot better," Happ said. "I feel like I'm staying in my lanes a little better on each side of the plate, more consistently. That's a good sign for me and there's been a little bit more life to my fastball as well." Happ is 2-2 with a 5.96 ERA in four starts against the Royals in his career but has not faced them since 2014. Junis is a rookie and he'll be making his seventh career appearance and fifth start on Friday since being called up in early June. He sustained his first loss of the season last Saturday, after allowing five runs on eight hits (including two HRs) in 5 1/3 innings against the Los Angeles Angels.
The pick: The Royals are hot (see above) but the Jays have won nine of their last 11, have not lost a series this month and are 13-6 in June. Happ seems to have found his groove and one has to like him over the rookie Junis who owns a 1.76 WHIP and .304 opponents BA to go along with his 5.56 ERA. Yes, the Blue Jays are 0-9 when trying to reach .500 in 2017 (getting outscored 73-24 in those nine losses) but at two games under .500 entering tonight's game, that doesn't apply. Make Toronto a 10* play.
