Royals Can Close Out Series With A Win

Royals vs. Blue Jays, 3:07 ET

Horseshoes and hand grenades. You probably know the expression - it's similar to "close, but no cigar." There are lots of expressions for being on the verge of success but not quite making it where you need to be. Yesterday I had a shot to get another 2-0 day, but I lost as the Orioles took down the Yankees. My pick was wrong, the Orioles beat the Yankees. However, if you read the article you also saw that I said that I leaned toward the under. If I played both (I didn't) we go 2-1, and it is another winning day. Hopefully, you played both and enjoyed another winning one. We are switching to another series here as the Royals take on the Blue Jays and looking to get the win back here. 

I still really don't believe my eyes when I see that the Royals are actually a pretty solid team this season. It is still early in the season, but at 18-13 on the year, they have to be encouraged that things are going well for them. Afterall, last year they didn't win their 18th game until June 4th, so they are already a full month ahead of schedule from last season. They are hitting fairly well as a team with a .237 batting average, but the surprising part is the number of runs they've scored this season. They've already put up 142 runs which is good for 13th in the Majors. Last season they finished 23rd with 676 runs, so they've already scored about 21% of what they produced last year. It isn't that they are ridiculously better offensively from last season, but their pitching staff has improved and is posting a 3.21 ERA so the combination is resulting in the wins. Today they have a guy who looks great so far, Seth Lugo, taking the ball. Lugo went to the rotation last year with the Padres and posted a 3.57 ERA. Before that, he was in the bullpen for most of his career. With the Royals, it looks like he was wasting his time in the bullpen. He has tossed 38 innings on the season and has allowed just seven earned runs on the year, good for a 1.66 ERA. He only has one game this season where he didn't put in a quality start. The other five outings he has gone at least six innings and allowed no more than two earned runs. The Blue Jays hitters are 7-for-26 against him with just one extra base hit. 

Apr 26, 2024; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays staring pitcher Chris Bassitt (40) walks toward the dugout after being relieved against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the third inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports

The Blue Jays are another team that I really can't believe my eyes when I see their record. Maybe I just want them to be a winning team, or perhaps I have just completely overestimated how good they actually are. At just 15-16 on the season, the .500 record isn't bad, but if they aren't careful they can fall deep down in the division and have no chance to do anything other than focus on the Wild Card. I guess this is what we should expect from them - to be somewhere around average. The team isn't hitting and now it is starting to be a concern rather than just a slow start. Their pitching staff, with a few exceptions, has been somewhat of a disappointment as well. The team has a 4.28 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP. Chris Bassitt, the pitcher for today, is one of the guys that the Blue Jays need to get more out of if they are going to go on a run. At this point in the season, he is just 2-4 on the year and has a 5.64 ERA with an alarmingly high 1.85 WHIP. He has issued 17 walks in 30.1 innings and allowed another 39 hits, including six home runs. He has just two quality starts on the season - both resulted in wins for the Blue Jays, but the other four starts were losses and he allowed at least four runs (only one was fewer than four earned runs). There are only three hitters that have experience against Bassit, and they've gone just 5-for-27.

If we look at this game on the surface, I think the easiest thing to do is to take the Royals to win the game. They have the better pitcher, the opposing pitcher is struggling and inconsistent. Sure, there isn't much experience for the Royals hitters against Bassit. That doesn't mean they can't get some today or take a few walks. The way he is throwing right now, people are able to get damage done against him. I like the Royals to win this game at +110.

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