Losers of four straight and having failed to secure a potential post-season berth on consecutive days, the slumping Toronto Blue Jays will look to regain their form against the Kansas City Royals on Sunday.
Toronto is aiming to both avoid a sweep and lock up a playoff spot with a win at Kauffman Stadium.
Catch the action on Sportsnet or stream on Sportsnet+, with first pitch at 2:10 p.m. ET / 11:10 a.m. PT.
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Watch Blue Jays vs. Royals on Sportsnet
The Toronto Blue Jays look to clinch a post-season berth as they wrap up a three-game set against the Kansas City Royals on Sunday. Catch the action on Sportsnet or Sportsnet+, starting at 2:10 p.m. ET / 11:10 a.m. PT.
Trey Yesavage takes the ball for his second career MLB start after setting a Blue Jays franchise record with nine strikeouts in his debut, also allowing only one run over five innings. The imposing right-hander struck out a staggering 160 batters over 98 minor-league innings as he ascended all four levels in his first professional season.
Michael Wacha will toe the rubber for Kansas City. The right-hander flummoxed the Blue Jays the last time he saw them on Aug. 1, allowing only one run over eight innings.
The 34-year-old owns a 3.79 ERA with 117 strikeouts and 41 walks over 161.2 innings this season.
Toronto has also struggled against the Royals in this series, scoring only one run in each of the first two games and being outscored by a margin of 22-2.
Over the last week, the Blue Jays have scored only 11 runs and have the worst slash line (.163/.215/.247) in the majors.
Daulton Varsho’s solo smash was the lone source of offence in Saturday’s 2-1 loss. The left-handed-hitting slugger now has 19 home runs in 64 games. Only Cal Raleigh and Giancarlo Stanton are averaging more home runs per plate appearance than Varsho this season.
Yet Toronto will still look to add thump to its lineup, potentially in the form of Anthony Santander, who went 2-for-4 with a single, double and two RBIs while playing left field for the Buffalo Bisons on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Bo Bichette reportedly began to do light hitting and tee work in the batting cage on Saturday. The star shortstop is pursuing a return in October after being ruled out for the remainder of the regular season with a PCL sprain in his left knee.
Toronto placed Chris Bassitt on the 15-day IL with lower back inflammation on Saturday and recalled lefty Mason Fluharty from triple-A in a corresponding move.
Bassitt’s 15-day IL stint will finish on Oct. 3, making him eligible to return for the start of the division series the following day.
If the Blue Jays clinch, they will have made the post-season in three of the last four seasons. They finished last in the AL East in 2024 and last played in October in a wild-card loss to the Minnesota Twins in 2023.
But even if they secure a post-season spot, the Blue Jays can’t get comfortable yet, as the AL East division title and a coveted bye to the ALDS will still be up for grabs.
Heading into Sunday’s action, the Blue Jays are up two games on the second-place New York Yankees, and up four games on the Boston Red Sox.
