Toronto Blue Jays vs. Kansas City Royals Prediction, Preview, Picks & Odds - 6/8/2022

Time: 2:10 p.m. ET

Venue: Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City, MO

Where to watch: YouTube

DraftKings: Blue Jays -150, Royals +130

BetMGM: Blue Jays -155, Royals +125

Caesars: Blue Jays -149, Royals +130

Blue Jays: 33-22

Royals: 17-37

Two games down in this series, two dominant wins for the Toronto Blue Jays. They have not allowed a single run in two games and will have the chance to sweep the Kansas City Royals in the three-game set on Wednesday in KC.

After starting with a strong 8-0 shutout victory on Monday, the Blue Jays followed that with a 7-0 victory on Tuesday behind yet another dominant outing from ace Alek Manoah, throwing six scoreless innings despite allowing six hits and walking three.

His teammates spotted him a 2-0 lead in the second of a two-run double from Matt Chapman in the frame. That's all Toronto could get off Kansas City starter Brad Keller, but that's all he needed given how tremendous Manoah's been good this year. He improved to 7-1 this season with a 1.81 ERA, thrusting himself to the front of the line for the AL Cy Young race nearly a quarter into the season.

“I just want to be a workhorse. That’s what I build everything around,” Manoah said, “going out there and eating a ton of innings, giving up no runs and letting that offense get hot. It’s just a blessing.”

Toronto has made a priority to bolster its starting pitching, which is why getting guys like Jose Berrios and Kevin Gausman were top priorities. He doesn't even have the best wins above replacement on his own team. But the fact that he's still won seven of eight starts and is already well on his way to high double digits in victories, that's something to behold.

“He’s one of the best in the league right now,” Royals outfielder Kyle Isbel said. “He had a lot working for him tonight. Didn’t really miss over the plate much. Two-seam was running good, got a lot of lefties front hip. Slider kept people off-balance. He was running the heater to all quadrants of the zone. He was tough. That’s a good pitcher.”

While Manoah stifled the KC lineup and got out of the proverbial jams, the Blue Jays took advantage in the late frames. Raimel Tapia drove in a run on a double in the top of the seventh, and then Bo Bichette drew a bases-loaded walk with two outs to make it 4-0.

“A lot of coaches in the process tried to calm me down,” Manoah said. “Coaches trying to calm me down made me not want to calm down, but then I was getting too aggressive and showing too much.

Already getting to the KC bullpen, the Blue Jays added two more off an RBI double from Teoscar Hernandez. The right fielder's lone hit was the one that broke the Royals' back. Toronto catcher Alejandro Kirk continued his terrific season by going 4 for 5 and raising his batting average to .322, and Santiago Espinal went 3 for 4.

Bichette went 2 for 2 and walked three times.

I don't expect a third straight shutout, but I do expect a strong close to this series with Yusei Kikuchi taking the mound. Facing Brady Singer, who has an ERA at 4.15, is going to be a favorable matchup for the Toronto pitching staff. I'd also expect Toronto to come out early and often with its power and put this game out of reach early. Blue Jays win 8-2

Blue Jays are 26-13 as a favorite this season.

Blue Jays are 13-3 as a favorite between -125 and -175 this season.

Royals are 8-24 in June over the past three seasons.

Royals are 1-6 against AL East teams this season and 13-27 over the past three seasons.

Royals are 4-10 against left-handed starters 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 - Yusei Kikuchi

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 - Brady Singer

Batting average: Alejandro Kirk -- .322

Home runs: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. -- 13

RBI: George Springer -- 30

Wins: Alek Manoah -- 7

ERA: Alek Manoah -- 1.81

Batting average: Andrew Benintendi -- .320

Home runs: Salvador Perez -- 8

RBI: Bobby Witt Jr. -- 28

Wins: Collin Snider -- 4

ERA: Brad Keller -- 4.15