Toronto Blue Jays vs. Kansas City Royals Prediction, Preview, Picks & Odds - 6/6/2022

Time: 8:10 p.m. ET

Venue: Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City, MO

Where to watch: SNET-1, Bally Sports Kansas City

DraftKings: NL

BetMGM: Blue Jays -175, Royals +145

Caesars: Blue Jays -164, Royals +145

Blue Jays: 31-22

Royals: 17-35

The good news for the Toronto Blue Jays: They hit the ball a ton and drove in some runs over the weekend against the Minnesota Twins. Bad news? They lost two of three to the American League Central leaders in what can be constituted as a disappointing weekend for the Blue Jays.

Toronto lost 8-6 in the finale to Minnesota despite 10 hits. Problem is they gave up 16 hits to the Twins, so you see the problem here. Matt Chapman went 3-for-4 with a homer, George Springer went 2-for-5 with a leadoff homer. Normally good. But Kevin Gausman had a rare off day with allowing three runs on nine hits in 3.2 innings of work. Yeah, that's a weird stat line.

"Some of their guys laid off some pretty good splits that I was flabbergasted they didn't swing at," Gausman said. "You have to keep competing."

That outing was the shortest in Gausman's 11 starts this season and the first time he didn't complete at least five innings. He's 5-4 as a member of the Blue Jays, but has not been close to a disappointment since coming over from San Francisco.

"It was cloudy and then the sun came out," Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo said. "I'm not defending my players, but that's not the first time people drop fly balls."

But at least if the Blue Jays were hoping to get back on track, facing the Royals fresh off a series loss to the Houston Astros might be a good way to start even if the Blue Jays are traveling to face them.

Kansas City lost 7-4 after giving up three runs in the top of the ninth but only had seven hits to do something with. Salvador Perez went 2-for-3 including a two-run home run, and no one else provided that kind of needed offense.

"(Perez) amazes us," Royals manager Mike Matheny said. "How he continues to figure things out, keeps his head down and keeps going. He is just so talented. Only so many people can hit the ball out of the ballpark as he does, and it is in big situations, too. He has a knack. He thrives in those situations. He wants to be the guy and he has been coming through for us the last couple of nights."

The way the Blue Jays were swinging the bats this weekend, it's finger-licking good against the Royals. Wouldn't shock me to see the Blue Jays dominate this first game. Blue Jays win 9-2

Blue Jays are 24-13 as a favorite this season.

Blue Jays are 11-3 as a favorite between -125 and -175 this season.

Royals are 0-6 on Monday games this season.

Royals are 5-12 as an underdog this season.

Blue Jays:
George Springer (R) CF
Bo Bichette (R) SS
Vladimir Guerrero (R) 1B
Teoscar Hernandez (R) RF
Alejandro Kirk (R) DH
Matt Chapman (R) 3B
Santiago Espinal (R) 2B
Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (R) LF
Danny Jansen (R) C
SP - Ross Stripling

Royals:
Whit Merrifield (R) 2B
Andrew Benintendi (L) LF
Bobby Witt Jr. (R) SS
Salvador Perez (R) DH
MJ Melendez (L) C
Hunter Dozier (R) RF
Carlos Santana (S) 1B
Emmanuel Rivera (R) 3B
Michael A. Taylor (R) CF
SP - Daniel Lynch

Batting average: George Springer -- .279

Home runs: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. -- 12

RBI: George Springer -- 30

Wins: Alek Manoah -- 6

ERA: Alek Manoah -- 1.98

Batting average: Andrew Benintendi -- .321

Home runs: Salvador Perez -- 8

RBI: Bobby Witt Jr. -- 28

Wins: Collin Snider -- 4

ERA: Brad Keller -- 4.15