Blue Jays and Royals meet to determine series winner
Toronto; Sunday, 1:37 p.m. EDT
PITCHING PROBABLES: Royals: Seth Lugo (8-5, 3.03 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 104 strikeouts); Blue Jays: Chris Bassitt (11-5, 4.24 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, 121 strikeouts)
BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Blue Jays -145, Royals +121; over/under is 8 runs
BOTTOM LINE: The Toronto Blue Jays and Kansas City Royals meet on Sunday with the three-game series tied 1-1.
Toronto has a 38-18 record in home games and a 65-47 record overall. The Blue Jays are 46-11 in games when they out-hit their opponents.
Kansas City is 55-56 overall and 27-28 in road games. The Royals have gone 24-4 in games when they scored at least five runs.
The teams square off Sunday for the third time this season.
TOP PERFORMERS: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has 24 doubles and 16 home runs for the Blue Jays. Bo Bichette is 20 for 45 with four doubles over the past 10 games.
Maikel Garcia has 28 doubles, five triples, 10 home runs and 47 RBIs while hitting .299 for the Royals. Salvador Perez is 11 for 38 with a double and three home runs over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Blue Jays: 5-5, .295 batting average, 6.38 ERA, outscored by 13 runs
Royals: 6-4, .230 batting average, 4.00 ERA, outscored opponents by six runs
INJURIES: Blue Jays: Tyler Heineman: day-to-day (head), George Springer: 7-Day IL (head), Shane Bieber: 60-Day IL (elbow), Bowden Francis: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Alejandro Kirk: 7-Day IL (concussion), Ryan Burr: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Nick Sandlin: 15-Day IL (elbow), Andres Gimenez: 10-Day IL (ankle), Yimi Garcia: 15-Day IL (ankle), Anthony Santander: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Alek Manoah: 60-Day IL (elbow), Angel Bastardo: 60-Day IL (elbow)
Royals: Steven Cruz: day-to-day (shoulder), Jonathan India: day-to-day (elbow), Kris Bubic: 60-Day IL (rotator cuff), Jac Caglianone: 10-Day IL (hamstring), Michael Lorenzen: 15-Day IL (oblique), Cole Ragans: 60-Day IL (rotator cuff), Mark Canha: 10-Day IL (elbow), Daniel Lynch: 15-Day IL (elbow), Michael Massey: 10-Day IL (ankle), Alec Marsh: 60-Day IL (shoulder), James McArthur: 60-Day IL (elbow)
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
27 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Wizards advised against signing former 76ers star Ben Simmons
Wizards advised against signing former 76ers star Ben Simmons originally appeared on The Sporting News The Washington Wizards are in the midst of a rebuild, with several promising players poised to earn meaningful minutes next season. Washington boasts a deep pool of young talent, including Alex Sarr, Bilal Coulibaly, Kyshawn George, Bub Carrington, Tre Johnson, AJ Johnson and Cam Whitmore. Alongside this youth movement, the team also features veterans Khris Middleton and CJ McCollum. While the Wizards could explore adding another veteran presence in three-time All-Star Ben Simmons, Tyrone Montgomery of advised against such a move. 'With his skill set, he would be able to help the Wizards in many different ways, possibly playing every position for them,' he wrote. 'However, it could come as a challenge for him mentally, ultimately resulting in a distraction to the Wizards in the end.' MORE: Star guard Tyrese Maxey breaks down blueprint for Sixers' success ahead of 2025-26 season Simmons' best days are behind him. While his defensive versatility is tempting, the Wizards should prioritize giving their young players larger roles. With the team unlikely to compete in the near future, adding the former 76ers Rookie of the Year could hinder the development of Washington's young core. Rumors have already circulated about potential buyouts for the team's veterans, with Washington likely to fully embrace its youth movement. Simmons, who has bounced around the league in recent years, doesn't fit that mold. He has also dealt with injury concerns, appearing in just 108 regular-season games over the past four NBA seasons. His best years came with Philadelphia, where he averaged 15.8 points, 8.0 rebounds, 7.7 assists and 1.7 steals while shooting 56.0 percent from the field in 33.9 minutes per game over four seasons. MORE NBA NEWS: NBA writer offers trade update on Celtics' $45 million sharpshooter Sam Hauser Giannis Antetokounmpo tops Eastern Conference player rankings for 2025-26 season Jalen Brunson climbs Eastern Conference player rankings for 2025-26 season Knicks urged to take low-risk gamble on former first-round pick Jaylen Brown takes spot among Eastern Conference's best as new role awaits
Yahoo
27 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Cubs place right-hander Michael Soroka on injured list with shoulder strain, recall Pearson
CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Cubs have placed right-hander Michael Soroka on the 15-day injured list with a right shoulder strain after lasting just two innings in his first start since being traded from Washington. Chicago recalled right-hander Nate Pearson from Triple-A Iowa in a corresponding move prior to Tuesday night's game against Cincinnati. Soroka left Monday night's 3-2 loss to Cincinnati after the second inning with a sore shoulder. The Cubs acquired the right-hander from the Nationals for two minor leaguers last week to help fill a gap in their rotation, with ace left-hander Justin Steele out for the season and Jameson Taillon working his way back from a right calf strain. Soroka is 3-8 with a 4.87 ERA in 17 starts this season. Pearson went 0-1 with a 12.66 ERA in 10 2/3 innings with the Cubs earlier this season. ___ AP MLB:
Yahoo
27 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Cardinals starters, including QB Kyler Murray, set to play in preseason against Chiefs
GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Arizona Cardinals coach Jonathan Gannon said on Tuesday that many of his team's starters — including quarterback Kyler Murray — will play Saturday in the team's preseason opener against the Kansas City Chiefs. Murray hasn't played in a preseason game since 2021. 'I told them last night — they're going to play,' Gannon said. 'I think it's the best thing for our team this year, honestly. I think we're at a good point with our health. We're at a good point with our development.' The third-year coach said he's not sure how long the starters will be on the field against the Chiefs, but it will provide an opportunity to see players in a different environment than camp practice. Arizona has several intriguing position competitions this preseason, particularly along the defensive front. The Cardinals added several veterans during the offseason, including Josh Sweat, Dalvin Tomlinson and Calais Campbell. 'It's live, so I do think that's the best form of evaluation, best form of learning, where growth can take place,' Gannon said. 'I want to see us operate, make sure that we're doing the right things.' The 27-year-old Murray is entering his seventh full season. He started all 17 games last season, throwing for 3,851 yards, 21 touchdowns and 11 interceptions last season and is more than 2 1/2 years removed from an ACL injury that caused him to miss parts of the 2022 and 2023 seasons. Arizona finished with an 8-9 record last season, which was a four-win improvement over the previous season. The Cardinals haven't made the playoffs since 2021. Also on Tuesday, second-year receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. returned to the field after missing three practices with knee soreness. Receiver Michael Wilson is still in concussion protocol after a collision with Pro Bowl safety Budda Baker last week. ___ AP NFL:
