MLB Baseball

2025-09-19 - Toronto Blue Jays at Kansas City Royals

A Sports Betting Pick by FirstDown

Toronto Blue Jays @ Kansas City Royals
United States : MLB Baseball
Friday 19th August 2025 - Scheduled 7:40pm
12:40am (British Time)

Preview

Dropping the last two games in the four game set with the Tampa Bay Rays will have given the New York Yankees something to chase, but the Toronto Blue Jays (89-64) will still be very calm about where they stand with the regular season down to single digit games remaining for teams around the Major League.

A 3 game lead over the New York Yankees is effectively a 4 game lead with the Blue Jays holding the tie-breaker, while Toronto are also clear when it comes to earning the Number 1 Seed in the American League.

However, there will have been some frustration with how the series with the Rays concluded and Toronto are going to want to come out and secure at least two of the three games to be played at the Kansas City Royals (76-77) over the weekend.

Expectations have not been met by the Royals this season and they are on the brink of having elimination confirmed- even winning all of their remaining games will not change that eventuality and Kansas City dropped two of three against the high-flying Seattle Mariners in preparation for this series.

One of the biggest issues has been the inconsistent batting production and the Royals are the team with the fewest runs scored in the American League. Last season they finished sixth in that column and that drop has ultimately been seen as the main reason Kansas City are not going to be involved in the post-season again.

They will hand the ball to Michael Lorenzen, but the veteran has had his issues, which have led to a 5-11 record and 4.91 ERA in twenty-five appearances this season. Twenty-four have been in starts, but the last appearance had been out of the bullpen as the Royals perhaps looked to see if Lorenzen can rediscover some of his rhythm.

An injury has given Michael Lorenzen the opportunity to show he still has plenty left in the tank, but he had allowed ten runs in in a little over 8 Innings thrown across his previous two starts.

He will be facing Toronto for the first time in 2025, but Michael Lorenzen has a 0-1 record and 5.02 ERA in four career appearances against them.

The Blue Jays will also turn to a veteran in this opener and there is still a real hope that Max Scherzer can get back to his very best form ahead of the Playoffs. There had been signs of that in August, but September has been difficult for Scherzer who has a 5-3 record and 4.31 in fifteen starts made for the Toronto Blue Jays this season.

His Playoff history makes Max Scherzer a valuable part of the team, but he had allowed four runs in three consecutive starts at the end of August and moving into September. That run was ended in the last outing when Max Scherzer held the Baltimore Orioles to two runs in 5 Innings thrown, but the consistency on the mound is the challenge being faced.

Earlier this season, Max Scherzer held the Kansas City Royals to a single run in 6 Innings thrown.

He now has a 14-5 record and a 3.15 ERA against the Royals in twenty-four career starts made against this team.

The Royals have won seven of the last nine games between these teams, including taking two of three against the Blue Jays on the road in early August.

Prediction

There will be one or two concerns about the last couple of Toronto performances as they have just left the door slightly ajar for the New York Yankees in the American League East.

However, the series coming up is a chance to keep things contained at the top of the League and Toronto should be able to open this series with a win.

Veteran Max Scherzer is struggling for consistency, but not nearly as much as Michael Lorenzen for the Kansas City Royals.

With the batting struggles for the home team, Toronto may do just enough to secure the win.