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Kansas City Royals at Toronto Blue Jays ALCS Game 3 MLB Free Picks
Starting Pitchers: Johnny Cueto vs. Marcus Stroman Venue: Rogers Centre, Toronto, Ontario Date: Monday, October 19, 2015 Time: 8:07 PM ET TV: FS1/SNET MLB Lines: Kansas City (+152) at Toronto (-165), OVER/UNDER 8
It’s your moment, @MStrooo6. Take it away: http://t.co/G1iHsWkM18 #ALCS pic.twitter.com/04hMES5Y6v
— MLB (@MLB) October 19, 2015
Given that this is a best-of-seven MLB playoff series, it’s probably too early for Kansas City fans to start celebrating a berth in the 2015 World Series odds. That being said, Toronto’s 53-28 home record in the regular season was tied for the best in the American League, underlining the strength of the Blue Jays when they are playing in Toronto.
Not to mention, starting pitcher Stroman (4-0, 1.67), a late-season addition to the Blue Jays rotation, has been performing quite well on the mound.
Most recently, he started Game 2 of the ALDS against Rangers, giving up three runs in the first two innings, before settling down and eventually going seven frames, allowing just four runs, three earned. Despite that decent start, the Jays lost that game 6-4 in 14 innings. Following that disappointing outing, he then started the series-deciding Game 5, putting a sterling performance that saw him give up just two runs in six innings to lead the Jays to a thrilling 6-3 series-clinching victory.
Even more notably, Stroman had great success in his lone career start against KC, back in May of last season, where he allowed just one run and five hits in six innings of work, helping the Jays to a 12-2 win. It therefore goes without saying that the Jays will have a competent and strong pitcher leading their unit this Monday, and combined with their superior offense, they are well-capable of taking care of business in this home game.
Of course, it’s not going to be an easy task for Marcus Stroman to outduel Cueto (11-13, 3.44), the veteran who is the big reason behind KC’s progress to the ALCS at the expense of Houston.
Cueto started Game 2 of the ALDS against Houston, a game he wasn’t that solid, as he gave up four runs and seven hits in six innings of work, but the Royals offense chipped in and rallied to win that game 5-4. Then, in his biggest of games so far in the postseason, he was chosen to start the series-deciding Game 5. And true to his big stature in MLB, Cueto proved to be a real beast, showing real dominance in eight innings of work. In those eight frames, he allowed just two runs (on a two-run homer from Luis Valbuena during the second inning), while walking none, whiffing eight and retiring the last 19 batters he faced, which helped the Royals to resounding 7-2 victory over the Astros. And as an added boost to the Royals, Cueto is 2-0 with a 4.05 ERA in three career starts vs. Toronto.
Cueto’s resoluteness aside, history also appears to be in the favor of the Royals, considering that 22 of the last 25 teams to take a 2-0 lead in a best-of-seven MLB playoff series have ended up winning that series.
Oh, and not to forget, you all remember how Toronto’s ace David Price blew a 3-0 lead in Game 2, allowing five consecutive hits in the bottom of the seventh, giving the Royals five easy runs that earned them the win on that day. With such shakiness, it is hard to trust that the Blue Jays won’t be shaky in tonight’s game.
