The Blue Jays used a big inning early in Game 3 to get back into the series with an 11-8 win.
They’ll look to even up the series after a short turnaround for Game 4. They’ll have the home field edge and so far the home team has won all three games of the ALCS.
ODDS ANALYSIS
Toronto continued its dominance at home in Game 3. Also, in similar fashion to the ALDS, the Jays have followed up a 0-2 series start with a win.
Kansas City have also seen its hot streak come to an end. The Royals showed last year that when they get on a roll, they can plow through opponents. The Angels and Orioles were both unable to put a dent in the Royals a season ago, but the Blue Jays were at least able to do that.
Toronto opened as -150 favorites to even up the series in Game 4 with the total lined at 9.
PITCHING MATCHUP
The Blue Jays will look to R.A Dickey to keep the momentum going as the veteran knuckleballer gets the start in Game 4.
In his only ALDS start, Dickey lasted just four and two-thirds innings, but surrendered just one run.
The 40-year old right-hander went 8-1 with a 2.80 ERA and 1.003 in the second half of the season and was 9-3 with a 3.11 ERA at home.
Against the Royals, he pitched seven scoreless back in August, giving up just two hits. Throughout his career against KC, Dickey is 4-2 with a 4.20 ERA and 1.455 WHIP in 14 starts.
On the other side—after a disappointing start by Johnny Cueto—Chris Young gets the starting nod.
Young allowed one run in four innings during Game 1 of the ALDS after taking over for Yordano Ventura.
Young’s regular season stats were very good. He was 11-6 with a 3.06 ERA and 1.086 WHIP, but his lack of strikeouts indicate luck played a big role. The fly ball pitcher has a 4.52 FIP. Neither the Jays nor the Rogers Centre are good matchups for him.
In 2015, Young pitched against the Jays just once, allowing three runs in six innings for a quality start.
LIVE/SITUATIONAL BETTING
Toronto finally got its offense going in Game 3 and it all started with an RBI base hit by Ryan Goins of all people.
After that hit, however, things got rolling and in the third, shortstop Troy Tulowitzki snapped an 87-at bat homerless streak, hitting the team’s first home runs since Jose Bautista’s infamous bat flip blast in Game 5 of the ALDS.
More than any other team, the Blue Jays are loaded with offense and prone to big innings like their six-run outburst in the third inning of Game 3. In that inning, Josh Donaldson also went yard.
Of course, eight runs isn’t too shabby for a Royals team that put up four a piece in the first two games. In Game 3, Alcides Escobar had a great game in the loss with four hits, becoming just the third Royal ever to accomplish that feat.
Kansas City is particularly good at the comeback. They were down 11-4 heading into the ninth, but forced the Jays to burn their closer. Roberto Osuna will be available again on Tuesday, but won’t be as fresh after closing out Game 3 after giving up a homer to Kendrys Morales.
PROP TALK
Alex Rios is used to hitting in the Rogers Centre as a former Jay and has the most career home runs of any Royal against Dickey with two. Over 24 at-bats, however, he’s hitting just .208.
On the other side of the field, Donaldson is just 1-for-16 against Young and Jose Bautista is just 3-for-16. While the rest of the lineup has put up similarly poor numbers, Russell Martin has hit him well. He’s 9-for-30 with a .417 OBP in his career.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
The Jays have won 12 of Dickey’s last 15 starts. The veteran knuckleballer also provides the Royals a much different look than they’ve seen the rest of this postseason.
Toronto has broken out offensively, are playing at home and have an additional spark after Tulowitzki was ejected from Game 3, becoming the first player ejected from a postseason game since Dwight Gooden in 1998.
Opposing Young in Toronto is the best possible matchup for the Blue Jays to knot this series up at two games apiece.
Toronto 7, Kansas City 4
The MLB lines for this contest will first be released by BookMaker Sportsbook. Gamble on the game between every half inning with BookMaker’s live betting feature. Along with an adjusted in-game moneyline, you can wager on what will happen in the next at-bat or how many runs will be scored in the next inning. Live betting is the most exciting way to play!
Access live betting lines from your mobile device at BookMaker Sportsbook! You can wager on sporting events as they unfold on television with BookMaker’s live betting platform. Real-time spreads, totals, props and moneyline odds are all available by clicking here so start betting with BookMaker today! The ballgame pitting the Kansas City Royals versus the Toronto Blue Jays will commence Tuesday, August 20, 2015, at 4:07 p.m. ET at the Rogers Centre. The matchup will be televised regionally on FS1.
