Kuzul

The Kansas City Royals have opened a 2-0 series lead in the American League Championship Series over the Toronto Blue Jays. The Royals protected their home field at Kauffman Stadium with a 5-0 win in Game 1 and a 6-3 victory in Game 2.  

The series is far from over, though, especially as it shifts to Rogers Centre for (potentially) three games in the Great White North. Here’s a look at the schedule for the rest of the series as well as where you can find coverage of each game.

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According to the Blue Jays’ website, Marcus Stroman is scheduled to start Game 3 for the Jays against Johnny Cueto of the Royals. Stroman will have to continue his solid postseason performance against Cueto, who has been one of the best playoff starters for Kansas City.

Cueto is 1-0 in the postseason with a 3.86 ERA, 13 strikeouts and a 0.86 WHIP in 14 innings. In 13 playoff innings, Stroman has yet to get a decision but has a respectable 3.46 ERA and nine strikeouts. 

Despite being down 2-0, the Blue Jays are favored at home in Game 3. At the time of this writing, Odds Shark had Toronto as -165 favorites, but 63 percent of the bets have been on Kansas City at +159.

It’s easy to see why bettors are backing the Royals. Their bullpen has been dominant against the Blue Jays, and as Fox Sports 1 points out, if the Royals starter exits with a lead, it’s pretty much a wrap.

For the Blue Jays to get back into the series, they will need assistance from the heart of their batting order. Josh Donaldson will have to return to his MVP-candidate ways of the regular season. In the playoffs, Donaldson is 6-for-26 with six strikeouts. 

However, he hasn’t no-showed the ALCS as much as Jose Bautista. Since the bat flip heard ’round the world, Joey Bats is hitless in the championship series with two strikeouts. The Blue Jays have their hands full, especially when they face the Royals bullpen, so they will need their big guns to get it going to have any chance.

However, if Cueto turns in another strong performance and keeps it close as he gives way to Kelvin Herrera and Wade Davis, it will give the Royals a great chance to take a 3-0 stranglehold on this series.

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