The Blue Jays are right in the middle of the bunchy AL East but they have to start playing better or they will be at the bottom before they know it. <\/p>\n
Toronto Blue Jays (12-13) vs. Kansas City Royals (12-12)
\n<\/strong>Tuesday April 29
\n<\/strong>Kaufmann Stadium – Kansas city, MO
\n<\/strong>8:10PM<\/strong>
\nProbable Pitchers
\n<\/strong>TOR: \u00a0Dustin McGowan (R)
\n<\/strong>KC: \u00a0Jason Vargas (L)<\/strong>
\nMoneyline: \u00a0Kansas City -136, Toronto +127
\n<\/strong>Total: \u00a08.5<\/strong>
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Toronto<\/h3>\n
Perhaps a break from divisional action will let them breathe a little easier and not play so tight as too many time they have squandered leads of late. \u00a0The good news is that the offense is starting to come around a bit.<\/p>\n
Jose Bautista is among the league leaders with 7 homes and even though he is still hitting below .200 Brett Lawrie is 7th in MLB in RBIs with 20.<\/p>\n
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Jose Reyes is back too\u2026<\/p>\n
…Which means it is all about pitching.<\/p>\n
Tuesday starter Dustin McGowan is a nice comeback story but he has not pitched well and this might be his last chance before he gets moved back to the bullpen.<\/p>\n
He is just giving up too many hits and they can not keep trotting out someone who can\u2019t pitch into the 5th inning with regularity.<\/p>\n
He still has stuff he just needs to trust it a little bit more I think.
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With a .500 start the Royals are right in the middle of their division too. They have been a much better team at home this season but did a job taking two of three from the Orioles over the weekend.<\/p>\n
Like Toronto they are waiting for their big bats to come alive. Super consistent DH Billy Butler is not even hitting his weight right now and Mike Moustakas is not even close to hitting .200 despite leading the team with 4 homers.<\/p>\n
Given how light their attack has been it is amazing they are in the face at all right now.<\/p>\n
The reason they are is the league 5th best ERA thank to James Shield a few veterans and a couple of up and comers. One of those veterans is Jason Vargas who has been brilliant with an ERA of 1.54 so far.<\/p>\n
He has not given up more than 2ER in any start this season and is averaging 7IP per outing.<\/p>\n
Were he getting more support from the offense he would have a better record than 2-0. The question is how long can the journeyman keep it up.<\/p>\n
Over, over, over for this one. With McGowan on the mound this might be just the game for the Royals to have a bit of a bust out. I think that applies to the Jays as well who have a ton of righthanded power to throw at Vargas, who in my opinion has yet to face a strong offensive club this season (and I am not buying).<\/p>\n
This number should be a pleasant memory<\/p>\n