BEST LINE: SportsInteraction +165 

1:00 PM EST. A 9th-round pick in 2011, Aaron Brooks relies on a fringy four-pitch mix. Brooks’ four-seam fastball is the best of his current offerings, sitting in the low 90s and topping out at 94 to 95. Brooks is a strike-thrower who does not walk many batters, as evidenced by his 1.2 BB/9 over two levels in 2013 and he has done a serviceable job keeping the ball in the park. He also pitches to contact and has done a good job keeping the ball on the ground, posting ground ball rates of 45% to 56% over three professional seasons. Brooks has held ERAs just slightly north of 4.00 throughout his career. If his fastball can develop into an out pitch and he tightens up his secondaries, his upside would resemble something along the lines of a Joe Kelly (RHP, STL). As it stands for now, Brooks is likely to return to Triple-A Omaha as soon as Ventura returns. The good news, however, is that K.C’s bats have caught fire at this venue and it’s not like Brooks’ mound opponent is the best the Blue Jays have to offer.

Marcus Stroman cannot be favored by this much in his first major-league start. He could get absolutely whacked today because his nerves may be a little much to overcome. Besides that, he has not shown much in the six innings of relief that he has under his belt thus far. In those 6.1 innings, Stroman has been tagged for 13 hits, which has led to a 2.21 WHIP and 12.79 ERA. Of course it’s a small sample size but it is what it is and he has not shown the ability to get batters out at this level. That inability has to be hurting his confidence as well. Stroman is small at 5’9” and he’s not in any way an intimidating figure on the mound. Jays are having trouble with the Royals this series and once again we reiterate that Marcus Stroman cannot be favored in this range and so the Royals offer up huge value against him.