Free Pick | MLB | Thursday | April 6

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Free Pick: #913 Toronto Blue Jays (Gausman) -1.5 -125 over Kansas City Royals (Lyles) 1:10 PM CT

While expectations are not high for the Royals, the 1-5 start in 2023 has been alarming, not as much for the records but for the complete lack offense. Kansas City has been shutout in three of its six games and has managed only 14 total runs in six games. Eight of those runs came against Jose Berrios who simply cannot pitch on the road it seems. The Jays outhit Kansas City 10-2 last night in a 3-0 win and Kevin Gausman was in MLB’s 99th percentile in chase rate, getting hitters to routinely swing at pitches out of the zone. Gausman took the loss in his 2023 debut but he didn’t allow an earned run and had seven strikeouts. He had a 2.38 FIP last season which was the lowest among all qualified starters in the American League, better than Shohei Ohtani or Justin Verlander. Toronto has scored at least three runs in five of six games this season and as expected this lineup has been a top 10 performer in the first week of the season in most measures. Kansas City ranks #30 out of 30 in most offensive metrics and all five losses this season have come by at least two runs. Jordan Lyles has been at best a league-average pitcher for most of his career and he allowed 10 runs in 16 innings vs. the Blue Jays last season.