Royals at Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays had to wait a few days to get in a game, but once they got their roof patched up and returned to the field they managed to secure a pair of wins. The Blue Jays will try to pull off a three-game sweep when they host the Kansas City Royals in the series finale on Wednesday.
Toronto was rained out in Cleveland on Saturday and Sunday and had Monday's home game postponed when a chuck of ice ripped through the roof at Rogers Centre, but Tuesday's doubleheader gave it a chance to get the bats back in gear. The Blue Jays pounded out 13 hits in an 11-3 drubbing in the opener on Tuesday and added nine more in the nightcap for a 5-4 triumph in 10 innings, which gives the team 11 wins in 14 games since beginning the season with back-to-back losses. The Royals are winless in seven straight and the setback in the nightcap marked just the fourth time in 15 games that they managed to score at least four runs. Kansas City will try to find a way to push runs across on Wednesday against veteran left-hander J.A. Happ, who opposes Ian Kennedy.
TV: 4:07 p.m. ET, No TV
PITCHING MATCHUP: Royals RH Ian Kennedy (1-1, 1.00 ERA) vs. Blue Jays LH J.A. Happ (2-1, 3.94)
Kennedy has allowed a total of two runs in 18 innings to begin the season but only owns one win in that span while getting little help from his offense or bullpen. The 33-year-old yielded one run and seven hits in six innings against the Los Angeles Angels on Thursday but ended up with a loss in a game Kansas City went on to lose 7-1. Kennedy lost his lone start against Toronto last season and is looking for his first career win in his fourth start versus the Blue Jays.
Happ turned in his first quality start of 2018 when he held the Baltimore Orioles to one run on five hits while striking out nine in six innings on April 9. The 35-year-old owns 23 strikeouts and five walks over 16 total innings but also surrendered four home runs. Happ allowed two runs in 13 1/3 total innings over two starts against Kansas City last season but ended up 0-1 in those turns.
WALK-OFFS
1. Royals RHP Justin Grimm allowed a total of seven runs in two innings over his last three appearances.
2. Toronto C Luke Maile hit safely in each of his five games this season and scored a run in each of the last four.
3. Kansas City 3B Mike Moustakas went 5-for-9 in the doubleheader and hit safely in each of his last nine games.