The Toronto Blue Jays conclude the pre-all-star-break portion of their schedule with a four-game series against a team wearing Kansas City Royals uniforms at Rogers Centre.
In many ways, these are the Royals in name only — as a whopping 10 players have been placed on the restricted list because they do not meet Canada’s COVID-19 vaccination requirements. The United States has the same requirement for entry, though it has yet to impact the Blue Jays this season as all of their players are vaccinated.
Even with a full roster, the Royals are not good, sitting last in the American League Central.
This is a great opportunity for new Blue Jays interim manager John Schneider to improve to 5-0 after winning his debut Wednesday against the Philadelphia Phillies following the firing of Charlie Montoyo.
Here’s a look at the Blue Jays-Royals series.
Probable pitchers
Thursday, 7:07 p.m. ET / 4:07 p.m. PT: Toronto RHP Kevin Gausman (6-6, 2.86 ER) vs. Kansas City LHP Angel Zerpa (1-0, 2.00 ERA, 2 IP)
Friday, 7:07 p.m. ET / 4:07 p.m. PT: Toronto TBA vs. Kansas City TBA
Saturday, 3:07 p.m. ET / 12:07 p.m. PT: Toronto TBA vs. Kansas City TBA
Sunday, 12:07 p.m. ET / 9:07 a.m. PT: Toronto TBA vs. Kansas City TBA
All games on Sportsnet.
Latest on the Blue Jays
After a day that started with the firing of Montoyo, the Blue Jays (47-42) finished Wednesday by completing a two-game mini-sweep of the Phillies with an 8-2 victory.
Starter Ross Stripling pitched seven innings of two-hit ball and Teoscar Hernandez belted two home runs to make Schneider, the former bench coach and a longtime member of the Blue Jays organization, a winner in his first game with the managerial reins.
The mini-sweep helped erase some memories of an awful 1-6 swing through Oakland and Seattle, all but the final straw for Montoyo.
The Blue Jays, Boston Red Sox and Seattle Mariners are now tied for second in the wild-card standings, 1.5 games back of the Tampa Bay Rays. Three wild-card teams make the playoffs.
Latest on the Royals
While the announcement of 10 players missing the Toronto series clearly was the big news of Wednesday, the Royals also won a baseball game.
A 5-2 win over the Detroit Tigers completed a 5-2 homestand for the Royals (35-53).
It marked Kansas City’s first winning homestand since late July of 2021.
Starter Brady Singer allowed one run in six innings for the win.
Minor-league convoy
With 10 players out, the Royals are going to have a very different look for this series – likely explaining why no starting pitchers have been named.
All-Star outfielder Andrew Benintendi, fellow outfielders Michael A. Taylor and Kyle Isbel, first baseman Hunter Dozier, second baseman Whit Merrifield, catchers MJ Melendez and Cam Gallagher, and pitchers Brad Keller, Singer and Dylan Coleman are all out.
Melendez and Gallagher are the only two catchers on the Royals’ roster.
Because of this, expect to see plenty of players from the triple-A Omaha Storm Chasers and double-A Northwest Arkansas Naturals.
Blue Jays’ pitching situation
Gausman will start Thursday for the first time since taking a comebacker off his ankle on July 2 against Tampa.
Ace Alek Manoah figures to get the call on Friday – his most recent outing was last Saturday in Seattle.
This Saturday is where it gets interesting. Max Castillo was the spot starter after Manoah in Seattle and went 4.1 innings, giving up a run on three hits.
Sunday, the Blue Jays could use Jose Berrios on regular rest after he struck out 13 on Tuesday against Philly.
Season series
The Blue Jays won two of three in Kansas City last month with Stripling and Manoah starting in shutout wins before one of Yusei Kukuchi’s many poor starts (0.2 innings, three runs, two hits, four walks) in an 8-4 defeat.
Manager matchup
Schneider and Royals manager Mike Matheny both were drafted by the Blue Jays in their playing days.
While Schneider never reached the majors, Matheny played 13 seasons as a catcher, including the 1999 campaign with Toronto as the backup to Darrin Fletcher.
Matheny didn’t sign with the Blue Jays after he was drafted in the 31st round in 1988, opting to return to college.
Matheny now has managed 1,354 games in the majors with the St. Louis Cardinals and Royals.
Up next
Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Alejandro Kirk and Manoah are the Blue Jays’ representatives in the All-Star Game next Tuesday in Los Angeles. George Springer was selected but has opted out of going to rest his elbow.
The Blue Jays resume their schedule July 22 in Boston.
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