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MLB : ATS Matchup
Thursday 7/30/2015Line$ LineOU LineScore
KANSAS CITY  DUFFY )
 
TORONTO  ESTRADA )
+1.5  -180

-1.5  +160
+115

-125

9ev
 
2
Final
5

KANSAS CITY (61 - 39) at TORONTO (51 - 51)
View Previous GameView Next Game
Thursday, 7/30/2015 7:05 PM
DANNY DUFFY (L) vs. MARCO ESTRADA (R)
Board OpeningLatest
 LineTotalLineTotal
963KANSAS CITY+120Ov 8.5,-120+130Ov 8.5,-115
964TORONTO-130Un 8.5,+100-140Un 8.5,-105
ADVANCED TEAM STATS
KANSAS CITY - Current Season Performance
 Team RecordsTeamOpponent
 W-LUnitsO-URunsAvgOBPSLGOPSRunsAvgOBPSLGOPS
All Games61-39+20.942-474.30.2710.3140.4090.7233.70.2460.3060.3860.692
Road Games27-21+8.721-214.20.2630.3050.4020.7073.90.2450.3110.3950.706
vs Right-handed Starters43-22+19.631-274.60.2740.3210.4210.7413.50.2430.3040.3920.695
Past 7 Games4-3+1.12-43.10.2290.2670.3590.6273.90.2690.3200.4330.753
Night Games40-27+10.927-334.00.2690.3110.3980.7093.30.2410.3010.3690.670
KANSAS CITY - Team Hitting and Fielding Statistics
Team BattingTeam BattingTeam Fielding
 RunsAVGOBPGABH2B3BHRSLGRBIBBSOSBLOBGIDPERRDPOSB
All Games4.30.2710.314100340992517527800.40941221358161659102588552
Road Games4.20.2630.3054817124518412430.4021881023131732556333623
Righty Starters4.60.2740.32165217959811123540.4212821483753940968265634
KANSAS CITY - Bullpen Pitching Statistics
 ERAWHIPIPRERHHRBBSOW-LSVBSVPct.
All Games2.141.06533788802502210930721-534979.1%
Road Games2.371.090159.7454210815661508-417577.3%

TORONTO - Current Season Performance
 Team RecordsTeamOpponent
 W-LUnitsO-URunsAvgOBPSLGOPSRunsAvgOBPSLGOPS
All Games51-51-6.248-465.30.2630.3280.4410.7704.30.2550.3100.4100.720
Home Games29-20+1.719-285.50.2780.3480.4830.8313.70.2340.2890.3830.672
vs Left-handed Starters15-13-2.314-145.40.2720.3360.4540.7914.50.2680.3160.4350.751
Past 7 Games3-4-2.84-24.70.2730.3380.4420.7804.00.2510.3040.3810.684
Turf Games29-20+1.719-285.50.2780.3480.4830.8313.70.2340.2890.3830.672
Night Games30-33-730-295.10.2550.3190.4330.7524.30.2520.3120.4030.715
TORONTO - Team Hitting and Fielding Statistics
Team BattingTeam BattingTeam Fielding
 RunsAVGOBPGABH2B3BHRSLGRBIBBSOSBLOBGIDPERRDPOSB
All Games5.30.2630.3281023448906200101320.44151633671556625106639147
Home Games5.50.2780.3484916054461073720.4832651732892530751253926
Lefty Starters5.40.2720.33628944257613350.45415091186151653514269
TORONTO - Bullpen Pitching Statistics
 ERAWHIPIPRERHHRBBSOW-LSVBSVPct.
All Games3.401.123302125114250338930512-19161551.6%
Home Games3.051.086147.3555012714331535-65645.5%
SCHEDULE AND RESULTS
KANSAS CITY - Schedule
 Team StatsOpp Stats
DateTeam StarterOpponentOpp StarterScoreW/LLineTot.O/UHLOBEHLOBE
7/17/2015YOUNG(R)@ CHI WHITE SOXSAMARDZIJA(R)4-2W1057.5 ovU741770
7/17/2015VOLQUEZ(R)@ CHI WHITE SOXDANKS(L)0-2L-1159 unU471980
7/18/2015GUTHRIE(R)@ CHI WHITE SOXQUINTANA(L)7-6W1057.5 ovO1715114121
7/19/2015DUFFY(L)@ CHI WHITE SOXSALE(L)4-1W1657 evU1361640
7/20/2015VENTURA(R)PITTSBURGHBURNETT(R)7-10L-1357 evO14811780
7/21/2015VARGAS(L)PITTSBURGHCOLE(R)3-1W+1057 ovU631892
7/22/2015VOLQUEZ(R)PITTSBURGHMORTON(R)5-1W-1257.5 evU960870
7/23/2015YOUNG(R)@ ST LOUISLACKEY(R)3-4L1307 unP1080760
7/24/2015GUTHRIE(R)HOUSTONKAZMIR(L)0-4L+1008 unU4501170
7/25/2015DUFFY(L)HOUSTONFELDMAN(R)2-1W-1408 unU760531
7/26/2015VENTURA(R)HOUSTONKEUCHEL(L)5-1W+1057 unU1140660
7/27/2015VOLQUEZ(R)@ CLEVELANDANDERSON(R)9-4W-1107.5 ovO1160981
7/28/2015YOUNG(R)@ CLEVELANDBAUER(R)2-1W1057.5 ovU531881
7/29/2015GUTHRIE(R)@ CLEVELANDKLUBER(R)1-12L1607.5 unO55118110
7/30/2015DUFFY(L)@ TORONTOESTRADA(R) 
7/31/2015CUETO(R)@ TORONTOHUTCHISON(R) 
8/1/2015VENTURA(R)@ TORONTOBUEHRLE(L) 
8/2/2015VOLQUEZ(R)@ TORONTODOUBRONT(L) 
8/4/2015GUTHRIE(R)@ DETROITVERLANDER(R) 
8/5/2015 @ DETROIT  
8/6/2015 @ DETROIT  

TORONTO - Schedule
 Team StatsOpp Stats
DateTeam StarterOpponentOpp StarterScoreW/LLineTot.O/UHLOBEHLOBE
7/17/2015HUTCHISON(R)TAMPA BAYODORIZZI(R)6-2W-1508.5 unU650561
7/18/2015DICKEY(R)TAMPA BAYRAMIREZ(L)2-3L-1359 unU661841
7/19/2015ESTRADA(R)TAMPA BAYARCHER(R)4-0W+1008 unU640420
7/21/2015BUEHRLE(L)@ OAKLANDGRAVEMAN(R)7-1W-1107.5 evO1071870
7/22/2015DOUBRONT(L)@ OAKLANDGRAY(R)3-4L1307 evP1211211100
7/23/2015DICKEY(R)@ OAKLANDPOMERANZ(L)5-2W-1208.5 ovU841540
7/24/2015ESTRADA(R)@ SEATTLEHERNANDEZ(R)2-5L1506.5 ovO760971
7/25/2015HUTCHISON(R)@ SEATTLEHAPP(L)8-6W-1308 unO881981
7/26/2015BUEHRLE(L)@ SEATTLEWALKER(R)5-6L-1207.5 unO9611371
7/28/2015DOUBRONT(L)PHILADELPHIAMORGAN(L)2-3L-2659.5 unU650620
7/29/2015DICKEY(R)PHILADELPHIAWILLIAMS(R)8-2W-2759 ovO1682762
7/30/2015ESTRADA(R)KANSAS CITYDUFFY(L) 
7/31/2015HUTCHISON(R)KANSAS CITYCUETO(R) 
8/1/2015BUEHRLE(L)KANSAS CITYVENTURA(R) 
8/2/2015DOUBRONT(L)KANSAS CITYVOLQUEZ(R) 
8/3/2015DICKEY(R)MINNESOTASANTANA(R) 
8/4/2015ESTRADA(R)MINNESOTAHUGHES(R) 
8/5/2015 MINNESOTA  
8/6/2015 MINNESOTA  
KEY GAME INFORMATION
KANSAS CITY: KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - Every once in a while, Ned Yost will spin a story about his days on Bobby Cox's bench with the Atlanta Braves, back when the organization was winning NL pennants by the fistful.
Inevitably, Yost would start drawing comparisons to his Kansas City Royals - that they were building through the farm system in the same manner as the Braves, and Kansas City would embrace the franchise in the same way Atlanta did if it ever became a winner.
Last year, that narrative finally made sense.
After squeaking into the playoffs as a wild card, the Royals swept all the way to the World Series. If not for a virtuoso performance by Madison Bumgarner of the San Francisco Giants, the Royals might very well have been celebrating their second championship.
The postseason run led Yost to draw one more comparison when he arrived in Arizona for the start of a new season, and his players filed into the clubhouse for the first time.
''It definitely reminded me of that feeling in Atlanta,'' he said, ''when you came to spring training every year with the feeling that you have an opportunity to go to the World Series - instead of hoping, you know? And it's a different feeling.''
There is good reason for that feeling, too.
The Royals return most of the pieces from the club that ended a 29-year playoff drought, including one of the best bullpens in baseball history. And the pieces they did lose to free agency have been replaced with what could turn out to be upgrades.
Designated hitter Billy Butler is gone, Kendrys Morales signed in his place. Alex Rios is taking over for Nori Aoki in right field. Edinson Volquez was signed to fill the rotation spot of staff ace James Shields, who chased bigger money all the way to San Diego.
Even though a few faces have changed, the tenants that the Royals believe in have not: They will continue to rely on speed, defense and pitching to chase another playoff berth.
''Any time you're fortunate enough to keep those key pieces, you feel good,'' said Greg Holland, the Royals' All-Star closer. ''Yeah, we lost Billy and Shields and Nori, but for the most part, we're right where we need to be.''
Besides, the back end of the bullpen is still intact.
Kelvin Herrera harnessed his electrifying fastball to become a shutdown seventh-inning reliever last season. Former starter Wade Davis had a historically dominant year as the setup man. Holland further cemented his status as the AL's best closer.
''The way you tilt the field in your favor, in my opinion, is having quality pitching and really good defense,'' Royals general manager Dayton Moore said. ''Those are things that hopefully can show up every single day and perform for you.''
As the Royals approach opening day against the Chicago White Sox on April 6 at Kauffman Stadium, here are a few other story lines to watch this season:
THE ROTATION: Shields was the anchor in 2014, but he struggled mightily in the playoffs. So when the Royals signed Volquez to replace him, it was mostly met with a collective shrug.
Besides, the success of the rotation will more likely be determined by the success of young flamethrowers Danny Duffy and Yordano Ventura, both of whom have ace ability.
INJURY BUGS: The Royals stayed remarkably healthy last season. Will karma even out?
Second baseman Omar Infante already missed long stretches of spring training with a bone spur in his elbow that could require surgery next offseason. Left fielder Alex Gordon also got a slow start to the spring after undergoing wrist surgery this past offseason.
SLOW STARTS: The last couple of seasons, the Royals have gotten off to slow starts. They unsuccessfully dug out of a big hole two years ago, but pulled it off last season.
Considering every other team in the AL Central appeared to get better over the winter, the Royals can ill afford to let Detroit, Cleveland and Minnesota and the White Sox bury them.
RESTING SALVY: All-Star catcher Salvador Perez faded in the playoffs in part due to his heavy work load in the regular season, where he appeared in 150 games. Yost intends to give him more days off this year, though it's hard to take his bat out of the lineup.
BASEBALL TOWN: Did the World Series run turn Kansas City into a baseball town again? The club has been overshadowed for decades by the Chiefs, who play just across the parking lot in Arrowhead stadium. How will fans respond to having the reigning AL champions?
TORONTO: TORONTO (AP) - The upcoming season for the Toronto Blue Jays seems destined to be defined by the one young pitcher who'll miss it and the two even younger guys who'll try to replace him.
Toronto's plans for ending baseball's longest active playoff drought took a serious hit when Marcus Stroman suffered a season-ending knee injury in spring training.
The second-year right-hander tore a ligament when his knee buckled as he backed off a bunt during a pregame fielding drill. He's out for the year after undergoing surgery.
''It's tough,'' Stroman said. ''I just feel like I let my team down. I've worked harder than I ever had this offseason.''
The injury changed Toronto's thinking about 22-year-old right-hander Aaron Sanchez, who might have been closing games rather than starting them if Stroman was still healthy, and 21-year-old lefty Daniel Norris, the van-dwelling surfer dude.
The two pitchers now look likely to get their shot in Toronto's rotation, slotting in behind 200-inning workhorses R.A Dickey and Mark Buehrle, and 24-year-old right-hander Drew Hutchison.
How successful they are could well determine what happens to the Blue Jays, out of the postseason since winning their second straight World Series in 1993 and the only team that hasn't reached the playoffs this century.
''We may have to rely on a young guy who may not be proven,'' manager John Gibbons said. ''Stro was a baby, too, but a special guy.''
Sanchez has already shown signs that he could also be special. He excelled out of the bullpen in 24 games last season, posting three saves and a 1.09 ERA in 33 innings, striking out 27 while walking nine and holding opponents to a .128 average.
With the increased demands of a starting role lying ahead, the hard-throwing Sanchez has spent this spring refining his slider.
''With the way he throws, it could turn into a big strikeout pitch for him,'' Gibbons said.
The Blue Jays are also high on Norris, currently better known for spending his winters searching for prime surfing spots while living out of a 1978 Volkswagen camper van nicknamed ''Shaggy.''
''He's a different bird,'' Gibbons said. ''Anytime you live in a van, I wouldn't say that's normal.''
Norris had an abnormal 2014 season, rising from Class A to the majors after going 12-2 with a 2.53 ERA at three minor league stops. He underwent elbow surgery last October to remove bone spurs, and expects to be better this year than the pitcher who made five appearances for the Blue Jays in September.
''He's a student of the game,'' Gibbons said. ''He's a very smart kid and he's grounded. He's got the most important thing: He's got a great arm.''
After Jose Reyes and the Blue Jays went 83-79, here's what else to watch as they try to move up:
MIGHTY MIGUEL: Sanchez and Norris aren't the only impressive young arms expected to break camp with the Blue Jays. Right-hander Miguel Castro, 20, didn't allow a run in his first five spring appearances, striking out eight and walking none while allowing three hits over nine innings. A hard thrower who stands an imposing 6-foot-5, Castro has put himself in position to jump from Class A, where he went 8-3 with a 2.68 ERA last season, all the way to the majors. ''He looks like a seasoned vet out there, under control, very relaxed,'' Gibbons said.
NEW GUYS, NEW FOCUS: Toronto strengthened its lineup over the winter by signing free agent catcher Russell Martin to a five-year, $82 million contract and acquiring All-Star third baseman Josh Donaldson from Oakland. Slugger Jose Bautista has praised the newcomers for making a difference in the clubhouse with their winning pedigree and intense focus. ''We need something along those lines here every now and then,'' Bautista said. ''It's good to have guys to whom winning matters.''
BLOCKING THE PLATE: Adding Martin gave the Blue Jays a logjam at catcher, where incumbent Dioner Navarro is signed through 2015 and Josh Thole is Dickey's knuckleball specialist. Martin has worked hard this spring to prove he can handle Dickey's floater, which could mean Thole is ticketed for Triple-A. Or, Toronto may yet trade the switch-hitting Navarro to open room at DH for Edwin Encarnacion, who has been slowed this spring by a balky back and may not be able to handle regular duty at first base.
PREVIEW
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PA SPORTSTICKER AL PREVIEW (KANSAS CITY-TORONTO) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

*Royals-Blue Jays Preview* ==========================

By CHRIS ALTRUDA STATS Editor

Kansas City (61-38) at Toronto (50-51), 7:07 p.m. EDT

While moving on after being traded sometimes takes time, Troy Tulowitzki has begun doing so in emphatic fashion.

Toronto's new leadoff hitter will try to stay hot Thursday night when the Blue Jays open a four-game set versus a Kansas City Royals team hoping to unveil its own new acquisition.

Tulowitzki admitted before Wednesday night's game versus Philadelphia he was "blindsided" by the trade that sent him north of the border from Colorado a day earlier. The shock didn't seem to last long, because after striking out in his first at-bat, Tulowitzki hit a two-run homer to snap an 0-for-21 slump. He added two doubles and finished with three runs and three RBIs as Toronto (51-51) rolled to an 8-2 victory.

"That was huge for me to get that under my belt," he said. "I relaxed after that and took better swings."

Tulowitzki hadn't played at Rogers Centre since 2007, but all five of his hits at Rogers Centre have gone for extra bases - three were home runs.

He's also gone deep once in three at-bats against Royals starter David Duffy (4-4, 4.03 ERA).

Duffy has gone 2-1 with a 2.15 ERA in six starts since a stint on the disabled list with a sore biceps, and the left-hander has yielded only four runs in 26 1-3 innings covering his last four outings. He limited Houston to one run and three hits in six innings of a 2-1, 10-inning victory Saturday.

"Actually, we knew he was back two starts ago," manager Ned Yost told MLB's official website. "He's back looking sharp again."

One of those sharp outings came at the expense of the Blue Jays on July 10 when he allowed four hits and three walks in six innings of a 3-0 victory, his first career win over Toronto. While Duffy has kept Jose Bautista in the ballpark, he hasn't kept him off the basepaths - the slugger is 4 for 6 lifetime against him.

The Royals (61-39) enjoy the biggest division lead in the majors at nine games and recently made two moves to bolster their chances of returning to the World Series, acquiring starting pitcher Johnny Cueto and utility player Ben Zobrist. While Cueto will make his first start Friday, Zobrist may play in this game, and the anticipation of his impact negated any bad vibes of Wednesday's 12-1 loss to Cleveland that snapped a four-game win streak.

"These moves obviously will help our team, and they're going to give us a lot of flexibility," manager Ned Yost said. "Zobrist, especially, because every player needs breaks the later you go into the season."

Eric Hosmer had two doubles to continue his torrid hitting since the All-Star break. He's batting .462 with nine extra-base hits and a 1.288 OPS in those 14 games, and that surge stands to continue given he went 3 for 3 against scheduled Blue Jays starter Marco Estrada (7-6, 3.55) in Duffy's win last month.

Estrada has alternated losses and wins in his last five starts, partly due to inconsistent run support. The Blue Jays have given him 11 runs in the two victories but only one in the three defeats.

The righty failed to help himself Friday at Seattle, giving up five runs and eight hits in four-plus innings of a 5-2 defeat. He was reached for two runs and nine hits in 6 2-3 innings in losing to Duffy - his lone start against the Royals.

While Blue Jays second baseman Devon Travis (shoulder strain) remains out indefinitely, the status of Edwin Encarnacion is uncertain after X-rays on his jammed middle finger were negative.


Last Updated: 3/28/2024 9:02:35 AM EST.


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