Gamethread 112: Royals at Blue Jays

A chance to take the series on the road, against one of the best teams in baseball

The Kansas City Royals will play another rubber match to conclude their first series of a 9-game road trip. Seth Lugo will get the start against one of the best teams in the league and the team with the best home record in all of baseball in the Toronto Blue Jays.

The Royals come into the contest at 55-56 and 3.5 games out of the last wild card spot, but also 5.5 games behind the Boston Red Sox for the first wild card spot, the Royals play at Fenway, Monday through Wednesday in a pivotal series.

After mashing their way to a 9-3 victory on Friday night, the Royals offense was stifled against 41-year-old Max Scherzer yesterday. in a 4-2 loss. Steven Cruz hit the IL with right shoulder impingement, but left hander Daniel Lynch IV is back now from his stint on the IL.

Jonathan India left yesterday’s game after being hit on the left forearm/wrist area. He is leading off as the designated hitter today however. Here is the rest of the Royals lineup for today.

The Toronto Blue Jays have been one of the hottest teams in baseball over the last two months, and that has helped propel them into winning the American League East, and tied with the Tigers for best record in the AL. Right hander Chris Bassitt starts today. All-Star catcher Alejandro Kirk also returns from the IL and will bat 6th today. George Springer remains on the 7-day concussion list after getting hit in the head with a pitch earlier this week.

Here is the rest of the Blue Jays lineup for today’s contest.

The game will start at 12:37 p.m. Central time. Hopefully it’s a happy flight to Boston for the Royals.