Blue Jays vs. Royals Prediction, Computer Picks, Odds & Pitching Matchup 7/15/2022

Bo Bichette is on the brink of his 98th hit of the season for the Toronto Blue Jays (47-43) as they get set to take on the Kansas City Royals (36-53) on Friday. The Blue Jays enter the matchup as -365 favorites on the moneyline, and action gets underway from Rogers Centre at 7:07 PM ET. Alek Manoah takes the mound for Toronto while Zack Greinke is Kansas City’s starter for the contest.

Blue Jays vs. Royals Spread and Betting Line

Computer Predictions for Blue Jays vs. Royals

After looking at all of the key stats and trends for this matchup, our best bet is the Royals on the moneyline at +284. Our computer picks see the scoring going over the total of 8.5 runs.

Our computer pick: Kansas City Royals (+284) and Over (8.5)

Blue Jays vs. Royals Game Info

• Toronto Blue Jays probable starting pitcher: Alek Manoah
• Kansas City Royals probable starting pitcher: Zack Greinke
• Game Day: Friday, July 15, 2022
• Game Time: 7:07 PM ET
• Location: Toronto, Ontario
• Stadium: Rogers Centre

Toronto Blue Jays vs Kansas City Royals Pitching Matchup

Blue Jays Starter Alek Manoah

• Manoah will aim to earn his 10th victory when he gets the start for the Blue Jays, his 18th of the season. He is 9-4 with a 2.34 ERA and 97 strikeouts in 107 2/3 innings pitched.
• The right-hander’s last appearance came on Sunday against the Seattle Mariners, when he went 7 1/3 innings, surrendering two earned runs while giving up three hits.
• The 24-year-old has an ERA of 2.34, with 8.1 strikeouts per nine innings, in 17 games this season. Opposing hitters have a .208 batting average against him.
• Manoah is looking to collect his 15th quality start of the season.
• Manoah is looking for his 18th straight appearance lasting five or more innings. He averages 6.1 frames per appearance on the mound.
• He will face off against a Royals team that is hitting .244 as a unit (13th in MLB). It is also slugging a collective .380 (22nd in MLB) with 74 total home runs (26th in MLB).
• Manoah has a 0 ERA and a 1.5 WHIP against the Royals this season in six innings pitched, allowing a .273 batting average over one appearance.
• The 24-year-old’s 2.34 ERA ranks seventh, .985 WHIP ranks 10th, and 8.1 K/9 ranks 34th among qualifying pitchers this season.

Royals Starter Zack Greinke

• Greinke (3-5) will take the mound for the Royals, his 15th start of the season.
• The right-hander’s last appearance was on Sunday, when he threw 5 2/3 scoreless innings against the Cleveland Guardians while allowing three hits.
• The 38-year-old has pitched in 14 games this season with an ERA of 4.52, a 2.786 strikeout to walk ratio and a WHIP of 1.276.
• He has started 14 games this season, earning a quality start (6 or more IP, 3 or fewer ER) in four of them.
• Greinke will look to pitch five or more innings for the fifth start in a row.
• The Blue Jays are batting .259 this season, second in MLB. They have a team slugging percentage of .432 (fourth in the league) with 116 home runs.

Blue Jays Betting Picks & Insights

• The Blue Jays have been favorites in 71 games this season and won 38 (53.5%) of those contests.
• Toronto has played as a favorite of -365 or more once this season and lost that game.
• The implied probability of a win from the Blue Jays, based on the moneyline, is 78.5%.
• Toronto’s games have gone over the total in 49 of their 89 chances.
• The Blue Jays are 37-52-0 ATS in their 89 games with a spread this season.

Royals Betting Picks & Insights

• The Royals have won in 29, or 39.2%, of the 74 contests they have been named as odds-on underdogs in this year.
• Kansas City has played as an underdog of +284 or more just one time this year and came away with a win in that game.
• The Royals have an implied victory probability of 26% according to the moneyline set for this matchup.
• Contests with Kansas City have gone over the total set by sportsbooks in 43 of 92 chances this season.
• In 92 games with a line this season, the Royals have a mark of 42-50-0 against the spread.

Blue Jays Leaders & Batting Stats

• Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has a team-high 20 home runs and 56 runs batted in.
• Guerrero is 12th in home runs and 16th in RBI among all hitters in the majors.
• George Springer has 14 doubles, two triples, 17 home runs and 32 walks while hitting .247.
• Springer ranks 23rd in homers and 70th in RBI in the major leagues.
• Alejandro Kirk has a team-high batting average of .315.
• Kirk will look to build on his three-game hitting in this matchup. In his last five games he is hitting .400 with a double and two walks.
• Bichette is batting .261 with 20 doubles, 14 home runs and 25 walks.

Royals Leaders & Batting Stats

• Bobby Witt Jr. leads the lineup with a batting average of .252, and paces the Royals in home runs, with 13 and runs batted in with 46.
• Witt Jr.’s home run total places him 50th in the majors, and he ranks 42nd in RBI.
• Witt Jr. carries a two-game hitting streak into this matchup. In his last five games he is batting .429 with a double, a home run, a walk and four RBI.
• Nicky Lopez has 11 doubles, a triple and 18 walks while hitting .240.
• Lopez ranks 394th in homers and 311th in RBI among all major league hitters this season.
• Emmanuel Rivera has eight doubles, three triples, six home runs and 11 walks while batting .236.
• Edward Olivares has four doubles, three home runs and six walks while batting .310.