The first weekend of the 2023 Major League Baseball season is in the books, and only three teams remain undefeated: Tampa Bay, Minnesota and Texas. Of those three, only the Twins are viewed as a likely winner of their division, and this is a sign of how long the MLB regular season is. The Toronto Blue Jays (1-2) head to Kansas City to start a four-game set with the Royals (0-3). Let’s break down each game as you consider your MLB betting choices for the week.
MLB Series Preview: Toronto Blue Jays at Kansas City Royals (April 3-6)
Projected Pitching Matchup: Jose Berrios (TOR) vs Brady Singer (KC)
Monday, April 3 (7:40 pm ET) | Jose Berrios had a 12-7 record a year ago, throwing 172 innings over 32 starts. His ERA (5.23) was on the heavy side, and he gave up 11 earned runs combined in starts against Tampa Bay and the Yankees in September as he wrapped up the season last year. This spring, he had two wins in four starts, striking out 13 over 14.2 innings while posting a 4.30 ERA and permitting two home runs.
Brady Singer posted a 10-5 record in 2022, with a 3.23 ERA, striking out 150 batters in 153.1 innings over 27 appearances (24 starts). He finished the season with a dud, permitting six runs on seven hits over 5 ⅔ innings in a loss to Cleveland. In spring training, he had four starts, going 12.2 innings and picking up one win. He posted a 2.13 ERA, striking out 18 batters. Singer’s stuff looks better at this point in the season, but this time of year, managers are not as likely to stretch out their starters late in games, so give me Toronto to win.
Projected Pitching Matchup: Yusei Kikuchi (TOR) vs Kris Bubic (KC)
Tuesday, April 4 (7:40 pm ET) | Yusei Kikuchi went 6-7 with a 5.19 ERA,, striking out 124 batters in 100.2 innings over 32 appearances, including 20 starts. He started the season at the back of the rotation but moved more into a relief role as the season wore on. His spring numbers included seven appearances (six starts), and he threw 20.2 innings, striking out 31 and posting an impressive 0.87 ERA, a significant improvement over 2022.
Kris Bubic had a dreadful 2022, going 3-13 with a 5.58 ERA. He struck out 110 batters and walked 63 over 129 innings, making 28 appearances (27 starts). This spring, his numbers looked better, has he struck out 15 batters in 10.1 innings, posting a 1-0 record and a 1.74 ERA in three starts. The 2.12 K/BB ratio is an improvement over his control in 2022. Kansas City to win.
Projected Pitching Matchup: Alek Manoah (0-0, 13.50 ERA) (TOR) vs Zack Greinke (0-1, 3.38 ERA) (KC)
Wednesday, April 5 (7:40 pm ET) | Manoah got the Opening Day start for Toronto with the St. Louis Cardinals in town, and while he only lasted 3.1 innings, permitting five runs on nine hits, including a pair of home runs, while walking two and striking out three. The Blue Jays held on for the 10-9 win, their only victory on the young season. In the spring, Manoah posted a 3.10 ERA in five starts, throwing 20.1 combined inning, striking out 21 and walking eight.
Zack Greinke threw 5.1 innings of serviceable baseball on Opening Day, holding the Minnesota Twins to a pair of runs on six hits, striking out four while walking one. However, the Royals’ offense was not ready to get up and running as the Twins held on for a 2-0 win. Greinke is widely viewed as past his prime, but if he can deliver this sort of performance regularly, and the Royals’ offense can hit its potential, then Kansas City could have some solid wins this year. Toronto to win.
Projected Pitching Matchup: Kevin Gausman (0-1. 0.00 ERA) (TOR) vs Jordan Lyles (0-1, 1.69 ERA) (KC)
Thursday, April 6 (2:10 pm ET) | Kevin Gausman pitched on Saturday and allowed three runs – none earned – on eight hits, striking out seven while walking just one over six innings, earning a quality start. However, the defense behind him and the batting order hung him out to dry in a 4-1 loss. Gausman also had a 0.00 ERA in spring training, throwing 13.2 innings combined over four starts, striking out 18 while walking just three.
Jordan Lyles also threw 5.1 innings in his first outing and also allowed two runs (one earned) on five hits…and the Royals lost again by the same score, 2-0. In the spring, Lyles started five games and posted a 1-1 record and a 3.52 ERA. He struck out 13 over 15.1 combined innings but walked 10 and permitted a pair of home runs. This isn’t the sort of arm that the Royals can rely on to put up zeroes. Toronto to win.
Blue Jays vs. Cardinals Game Highlights – April 2
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