Surging Blue Jays to face sliding Royals

Baseball Betting Lines

07/19/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Toronto Blue Jays try to make it four straight wins when they open a three-game series against the Kansas City Royals this evening at Kauffman Stadium.

The Jays battered the woeful Baltimore Orioles this past weekend, taking all three games of the set at Camden Yards and outscoring the O's, 17-5.

On Sunday, Yunel Escobar hit his first-career grand slam as the Blue Jays dominated Baltimore, 10-1. Escobar, who was acquired from the Braves on Wednesday as part of a five-player deal, went 3-for-4 with five RBI and two runs scored for the Blue Jays, who have taken all nine matchups with Baltimore this year.

John Buck had three hits, drove in two runs, and scored once for the Blue Jays, who have homered in a season-high 11 straight games. They lead the majors with 140 home runs.

Shaun Marcum (8-4), who was activated from the 15-day disabled list prior to the game, gave up one run on nine hits in a five-inning start. The right- hander also fanned four batters and walked zero in the victory.

The Blue Jays will try to stay hot tonight behind the left arm of Brett Cecil, who is 8-5 with a 3.97 ERA. Cecil won his final start before the break, holding the Minnesota Twins to a run and four hits in seven innings on July 8.

Cecil has never faced the Royals.

Hoping to slow down the Jays' power bats tonight will be righty Kyle Davies, who is 4-6 with a 5.57 ERA but winless in his last seven outings. Davies did not get a decision on July 7 in Seattle, as the Mariners managed three runs and four hits in six innings of KC's 7-3 win.

Davies lost to the Jays back on April 20 and is 1-2 lifetime against them with a 5.03 ERA in three starts.

Kansas City enters tonight's opener having lost six straight following a three-game sweep at the hands of the Oakland Athletics that culminated with a 9-6 setback on Sunday.

Brian Bannister (7-8) went 6 1/3 frames in the start for Kansas City, giving up five runs on six hits. He also walked a season-high six batters and struck out two in the loss.

"I was about 12 strikes short of where I needed to be today out there," Bannister said afterward. "I couldn't get them to chase. The pitches weren't good pitches or they were good pitches and they just didn't swing. I got behind way too much."

Kansas City, which scored in only four of its 27 innings against the A's, is now 18-24 at home on the year, the second-worst mark in the league behind the Orioles.

Toronto took two of three from the Royals earlier in the season.

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El Duque expected to throw Tuesday

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- New York Mets pitcher Orlando Hernandez, sidelined at spring training because of arthritis in his neck, is expected to resume throwing on Tuesday.

Hernandez received a cortisone shot Thursday after leaving camp and returning to New York to have his neck examined. The 41-year-old right-hander is penciled in as the team's No. 2 starter behind Tom Glavine.

El Duque's health is a major issue for the Mets, who won the NL East in 2007 and came within one victory of the World Series. Their aging and unsettled rotation is a big question mark this year.

MySportsbook.com has the Mets as -110 favorites to repeat as NL East champions odds. 

Hernandez went 11-11 with a 4.66 ERA last season, including 9-7 with a 4.09 ERA in 20 starts after the Mets acquired him from Arizona in late May. But he missed the playoffs because of a torn calf muscle.

New York already is without Pedro Martinez, out until at least midseason following rotator cuff surgery. Among those competing for starting jobs are prospects Mike Pelfrey, Philip Humber and Jason Vargas, plus veterans Chan Ho Park, Jorge Sosa and Aaron Sele.

Notes: Mets manager Willie Randolph is excited about two new utility players he could have on his bench: Damion Easley and David Newhan. ''Their value is really all over the place,'' Randolph said. Easley can play anywhere in the infield and could be used as an emergency outfielder, though Randolph said he would prefer to keep the veteran in the infield. Newhan, meanwhile, can play second base, third or any outfield position for the Mets. ''I love versatility,'' Randolph said. ''I love guys that can give me options when I need them to step in.''

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