MLB Baseball
2026-08-25 - Kansas City Royals at Toronto Blue Jays
A Sports Betting Pick by FirstDown
United States : Major League Baseball
Tuesday 25th August 2026 - Scheduled 7:07pm EST
12:07am (British Time)
Preview
Winning or losing streaks in the final few days of August would usually be cause for plenty of attention in the Major League Baseball world, but not all are equal. For example, the Kansas City Royals (58-74) will be receiving plenty of attention within the fanbase for the eight game winning run they have put together, but it is going to have little overall impact on the standings as teams gear towards the Playoffs.
Where it will matter to opponents is when they are next in line to play a hot team who have little motivation outside of playing spoiler for others.
The Royals begin this series on the road against the Toronto Blue Jays (64-68) knowing the pressure is exclusively on the home team. The American League East Division is now free from the Blue Jays grasp having earned the crown in 2025, but they have also fallen 2 games out of the Wild Card positions meaning the American League Pennant may need to be handed over before the post-season begins.
Inconsistencies has been a major problem for the Blue Jays who have won three and lost four of the last seven games, but have neither won two in a row or lost two in a row. After dropping the last game to lose the series against the New York Yankees, the Toronto Blue Jays will be hoping that recent sequence holds true and they can get back on track in chasing down a Wild Card spot.
The Blue Jays will hand the ball to veteran Max Scherzer who can still very productive on his best day, but who has just turned 42 years old and struggles for consistent production as he put together when in his prime.
Max Scherzer has a 1-6 record and 7.40 ERA in eleven starts in 2026 and he is no longer someone who can pitch twenty-five plus starts in a single season. He recently returned from a six week layoff and had put together a 0-1 record and 2.37 ERA in four starts, but Max Scherzer was rocked for seven runs in 4 Innings thrown against the Tampa Bay Rays last time out to absorb yet another decision loss.
There is also going to be some mental demons to exorcise having last thrown against the Kansas City Royals in September 2025 and failing to get out of the 1st Inning after allowing seven runs.
The Royals will counter and look to keep the winning run going behind Seth Lugo who has a 5-7 record and 4.71 ERA in twenty-five starts made this season. This is another very experienced pitcher having begun his Major League career back in 2016, but Seth Lugo has only become a consistent starter over the last three seasons and his numbers in 2026 are set to be the poorest of his career in that role.
August has proven to be a very tough month for Seth Lugo who has a 1-1 record despite a 7.48 ERA in the four starts made. He has allowed at least five runs in three of those starts, although the Royals have allowed the veteran to get through the Innings even when encountering problems.
Seth Lugo is another who has not pitched against this opponent since September 2025 when he restricted the Blue Jays to two runs without completing the 5th Inning.
That series in Kansas City in September 2025 is the last time Toronto and the Royals have met and it was the home team who took two of three games. The Kansas City Royals did the same when visiting Toronto in August 2025.
Prediction
Both veteran starting pitchers have had their issues on the mound in 2026 and runs have to be expected.
The narrow edge is still with Max Scherzer and the Toronto Blue Jays- the team in general have bounced back from recent setbacks, even when lacking consistency, while Scherzer has pitched well on his return to the starting rotation last month.
Seth Lugo has had a few more difficulties in August outings and the Kansas City Royals may not be able to back him up for long enough to avoid having an eight game winning run snapped.
The Pick :
Toronto Blue Jays 5-4 Kansas City Royals
