The Jays start a three-game series against the AL Central last-place Kansas City Royals. The Royals are 58-74. But in August,, they are 12-9, and on an eight-game winning streak.
On the season, they are 10th in the AL in runs scored, at 4.24 runs/game (Jays are last at 3.95).
In runs allowed, they are 13th at 4.93 (the Jays are 7th at 4.36 runs/game).
Starting pitchers:
- Seth Lugo (5-7, 4.71) vs. Max Scherzer (1-6, 7.40). Lugo has been hit hard in his last four starts, giving up 18 runs in 21.2 innings.
- Randy Dobnak (2-1, 1.58 vs. Shane Bieber (5-2, 4.53). Dobnak is coming off two starts where he didn’t allow an earned run. But he only went 10.2 innings, allowing 10 hits, 6 walks and 10 strikeouts.
- Noah Cameron (8-8, 4.02) vs. Likely a bullpen day with Spencer Arrighetti getting the bulk role. Cameron had a complete-game shutout and then threw five innings of shutout ball in his last two starts, allowing just 3 hits in 14 innings, with 4 walks and 10 strikeouts.
Isn’t it just our luck to be playing a last-place team when they are on an eight-game win streak?
They have averaged 6.25 runs per game
in the win streak. And they have allowed just 3.37 runs per game. In the win streak:
- Not surprisingly, Bobby Witt Jr. has been hitting terrific, .344/.447/.656 with 3 home runs.
- Jac Caglianone is hitting .333/.391/.429.
- Michael Massey is hitting .429/.478/.667 with a home run
- Even Sal Perez is hitting well, .345/.367/.517 with a home run, a steal (how?) and 6 RBI, during the win streak. He’s having a poor season, with a -0.3 bWAR and a .643 OPS.
The Royals have a couple of ‘old friends’:
- Nate Pearson came to them at the trade deadline, and he has been excellent since the trade with the Astros, posting a 0.71 ERA in 12.2 innings. He does have 5 walks in those innings, so he’s still Nate, but he’s holding batters to a .140/.260/.186 line, much better than the .225/.345/.296 line he had with the Astros. He has 2 saves as a Royal, one more and he’d tied his career mark with the Jays, just not in this series.
- Luke Maile is also on their roster as backup catcher (or third catcher, really, behind Carter Jensen and Sal Perez, who has played 44 games behind the plate). Maile is hitting much as he did for us, .179.
Late in the game options:
Lucas Erceg was their closer, but he was shipped to the minors last week. He was having a rough time, with a 6.23 ERA.
Pearson, Steven Cruz (4.17 ERA, but 5 saves and a 3.45 ERA in the last month), Alex Lange (5.86 ERA), John Schreiber (3.80 ERA, with 4 holds and a win in August), and recent signing Craig Kimbrel (0 ERA and 1 save in 5 appearances)
Their bullpen has been an issue, with a 5.21 ERA, but it’s been better lately.
