We have a 4-game series at home against the Toronto Blue Jays kicking off today. Going 8-14 so far this year, the Blue Jays have compiled a .364 winning percentage. They are in 5th place in the East Division, 8.5 games behind the leader. Their number of runs scored of 80 ranks 11th in the American League, and their .240 batting average ranks 9th. On the other side of the diamond, they have given up 110 runs (tied for 12th) with their starters compiling an ERA of 5.07, which ranks 11th. Their bullpen sports an ERA of 4.95, ranking 14th.
Here are the projected pitching matchups, our pitchers listed first:
RHP M. Wacha (0-2, 4.07 ERA) vs RHP B. Francis (0-2, 3.98 ERA)
RHP M. Sauer (0-1, 5.40 ERA) vs LHP Y. Kikuchi (0-2, 9.87 ERA)
RHP B. Singer (0-3, 6.29 ERA) vs RHP M. White (2-2, 5.24 ERA)
LHP C. Ragans (1-1, 2.30 ERA) vs RHP C. Bassitt (1-2, 4.71 ERA)
The top 5 players on their team are:
1. C Danny Jansen (Age: 29, Overall: 70, Potential: 70)
2. 1B Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (25, 65, 70)
3. C Alejandro Kirk (25, 60, 60)
4. RF George Springer (34, 60, 60)
5. SP Jose Berrios (29, 55, 60)
Game Summary – April 22nd – Royals Get Hard-Earned Win
The Kansas City Royals beat the Toronto Blue Jays, 5-4, at Kauffman Stadium. Bobby Witt Jr., who finished 4th in the AL in triples with 6 in 2022, starred for Kansas City. He was 2 for 4 with a home run, while scoring 2 and driving in 2. Nick Anderson snagged the win in relief. He goes to 1-1 on the season. Bowden Francis suffered the loss. The Blue Jays fall to 8-15 and continue their uninspiring start to the 2024 season. The clutch at-bat came in the bottom of the ninth inning, when Kansas City left fielder MJ Melendez, facing Tim Mayza, had a run-scoring ground out. It gave the Royals a 5-4 win.
"This place was electric at the end," Witt Jr. said.
GAME NOTES
Player of the Game: Bobby Witt Jr.
Ballpark: Kauffman Stadium
Weather: Clear skies (51 degrees), wind blowing out to the right at 10 mph
Start Time: 6:40 PM CT
Time: 3:03
Attendance: 18149
Game Summary – April 23rd – Blue Jays Spill Royals, 6-4
Baseball fans saw a good contest between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Kansas City Royals. The Toronto Blue Jays defeated the Kansas City Royals, 6-4, at Kauffman Stadium. Toronto was led by two-time All-Star Bo Bichette, who went 3 for 5 with 2 doubles, while adding 3 RBI and scoring once. The Royals fall to 8-16 and continue to sputter in the early going. With Toronto leading 5-4 in the top of the seventh, Bichette hit a run-scoring single off Kansas City hurler John McMillon. It was the 33rd hit of the season for Bichette and put his team ahead, 6-4. "I'm proud to wear a Toronto jersey," Bichette told the Toronto Citizen.
"We played a good game and came out with the win. What more can you ask for?"
GAME NOTES
Player of the Game: Bo Bichette
Ballpark: Kauffman Stadium
Weather: Cloudy (50 degrees), wind blowing out to right at 19 mph
Start Time: 6:40 PM CT
Time: 3:51
Attendance: 10567
Special Notes: Rain delay of 23 minutes in the 3rd inning.
Game Summary – April 24th – Blue Jays Drop Royals, 8-3
Toronto left fielder Tommy Pham played a vital role in his team's 8-3 conquest of Kansas City. He was 2-4 with a home run, while scoring 2 times and driving in 4 for Toronto. The loss makes Kansas City 8-17. With Toronto leading 2-0 in the top of the second, Pham hit a fastball from Matt Sauer for a 3-run home run. It was his 3rd home run of the season and put the Blue Jays ahead, 5-0.
"We'll pop the top on a cold beverage and get back to work tomorrow," Pham said.
GAME NOTES
Player of the Game: Tommy Pham
Ballpark: Kauffman Stadium
Weather: Clear skies (48 degrees), wind blowing out to the center at 12 mph
Start Time: 6:40 PM CT
Time: 3:48
Attendance: 13818
Special Notes: 3B Justin Turner was injured while running the bases.
Game Summary – April 25th – Kansas City Gets Riveting Walk-Off Win
The Toronto Blue Jays got a sterling performance from pitcher Trevor Richards, but the Kansas City Royals still prevailed, 4-2. Richards came in in relief and pitched to 27 batters. Kansas City is still hoping to get on a roll. The win is just their 9th in 26 games. Kansas City got a clutch hit from Nick Loftin. The second baseman launched a 2-run home run in the bottom of the ninth inning to win the game. It was his only hit in 4 at-bats, but it was a kill shot.
"It's great to get the crowd pumped up," Loftin said.
GAME NOTES
Player of the Game: Trevor Richards
Ballpark: Kauffman Stadium
Weather: Clear skies (61 degrees), wind blowing out to the center at 10 mph
Start Time: 1:10 PM CT
Time: 2:58
Attendance: 17058
Special Notes: SP Chris Bassitt was injured while pitching.
I’ll leave the lineups and depth charts to Paul Hoover for the meantime. He knows these guys better than I do. I now feel some of Matt Quatraro’s frustration. At least Bobby is starting to come around. I wish all the guys would have it at the same time, like Pasquatch and Salvy. If they all can get it together for a nice run, we might have a chance at a winning season at least. The playoffs are a long way off, and it's not even worth thinking about right now. Let’s just try to stay below 100 losses!
