Blue Jays visit the Royals to open 3-game series

Toronto Blue Jays (70-71, fourth in the AL East) vs. Kansas City Royals (63-78, fifth in the AL Central)

Kansas City, Missouri; Friday, 8:10 p.m. EDT

PITCHING PROBABLES: Blue Jays: Jameson Taillon (0-0); Royals: Daniel Lynch (4-4, 3.06 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 46 strikeouts)

LINE: Royals -122, Blue Jays -100; over/under is 9 1/2 runs

BOTTOM LINE: The Kansas City Royals start a three-game series at home against the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday.

Kansas City is 63-78 overall and 37-32 at home. The Royals have gone 29-14 in games when they did not allow a home run.

Toronto is 33-36 in road games and 70-71 overall. The Blue Jays have a 25-12 record in games when they hit two or more home runs.

The teams meet Friday for the fourth time this season.

TOP PERFORMERS: Bobby Witt Jr. has 16 home runs, 57 walks and 50 RBI while hitting .283 for the Royals. Jac Caglianone is 14 for 43 with five doubles, a home run and nine RBI over the past 10 games.

Kazuma Okamoto leads the Blue Jays with 28 home runs while slugging .440. George Springer is 15 for 36 with five doubles, two home runs and six RBI over the past 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Royals: 6-4, .278 batting average, 4.60 ERA, outscored opponents by 10 runs

Blue Jays: 6-4, .250 batting average, 3.68 ERA, outscored opponents by nine runs

INJURIES: Royals: Craig Kimbrel: day-to-day (nausea), Beck Way: 15-Day IL (back), Connor Seabold: 60-Day IL (lat), Tony Gonsolin: 15-Day IL (elbow), Nick Mears: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Carlos Estevez: 60-Day IL (foot), James McArthur: 60-Day IL (elbow), Maikel Garcia: 10-Day IL (hamstring), Luinder Avila: 60-Day IL (forearm), Cole Ragans: 60-Day IL (elbow), Stephen Kolek: 60-Day IL (flexor), Jonathan India: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Alec Marsh: 60-Day IL (shoulder)

Blue Jays: Patrick Corbin: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Yimi Garcia: 60-Day IL (elbow), Jameson Taillon: 15-Day IL (forearm), Jonatan Clase: 60-Day IL (foot), Addison Barger: 60-Day IL (elbow), Shane Bieber: 15-Day IL (back), Trey Yesavage: 15-Day IL (knee), Luis Urias: 10-Day IL (quadricep), Jose Berrios: 60-Day IL (elbow), Jake Bloss: 60-Day IL (elbow), Cody Ponce: 60-Day IL (knee), Anthony Santander: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Bowden Francis: 60-Day IL (elbow)

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.