Blue Jays at Royals
The Blue Jays improved to 4-1 on the road this season, thanks to a two-home run, four-RBI night from Colby Rasmus on Saturday. Toronto continued its roller-coaster start to the season, alternating back-to-back wins with back-to-back losses in its first 14 games to sit 7-7 on the season. Kansas City has lost nine in a row and eight straight at home.
Rasmus wasn’t the only hot bat Saturday. Edwin Encarnacion also had a two-run homer and finished with three RBIs, giving him a team-best 13 RBIs to begin the year. The Royals shook up their lineup in hopes of snapping their skid. Alex Gordon was bumped to the No. 2 hole from the lead-off spot, extending his hitting streak to five games with a 2-for-4 night including a solo home run.
TV: 2:10 p.m. ET, RSN1 (Toronto), FS Kansas City
PITCHING MATCHUP: Blue Jays LH Ricky Romero (2-0, 3.72 ERA) vs. Royals LH Danny Duffy (1-1, 2.13 ERA)
Romero is rounding into form after a sloppy start to the season. He went six innings, giving up three runs on six hits against Tampa Bay in his most recent trip to the mound. The left-hander is 1-1 with a career 3.86 ERA versus the Royals.
Duffy has been a pleasant surprise for Kansas City, going at least six innings in each of his three starts this season. In his most recent start, the left-hander went 6 2/3 innings, giving up three runs in a loss to the Tigers. Duffy has a 0-1 record and a 11.25 ERA versus Toronto, lasting only four innings and allowing five runs on eight hits last June.
WALK-OFFS
1. Toronto put closer Sergio Santos on the 15-day disabled list due to a shoulder injury. Francisco Cordero will take over the closer role.
2. Kansas City is allowing 6.6 runs per game during its nine-game losing skid.
3. Toronto slugger Jose Bautista went 0-for-5 Saturday and was the only Blue Jays player without a hit.