Blue Jays at Royals
One day after the Kansas City Royals continued to dip their toe into the trade market waters by dealing a key reliever, the Toronto Blue Jays created a much bigger splash by trading away their ace and leadoff hitter. Two American League teams with identical records who appear to have resigned themselves to playing for next year meet up for the second time in a month beginning Monday when the Royals host the Blue Jays in the opener of a three-game set.
Kansas City (40-67) has dealt three veterans to playoff contenders over the last two-plus weeks - the latest of which being Saturday's trade of left-hander Jake Diekman, who followed Homer Bailey to Oakland. Toronto officially began turning the page Sunday, shipping utilityman Eric Sogard to the team it was playing (Tampa Bay) for two players to be named later and right-hander Marcus Stroman to the New York Mets, reportedly for minor-league pitchers Anthony Kay and Simeon Woods Richardson. The Royals avoided a four-game sweep against Cleveland with Sunday's 9-6 victory to improve to 10-6 since the Midsummer Classic, while the Blue Jays dropped the rubber match of their three-game set with the Rays 10-9 after blowing a seven-run lead after the fifth inning. Toronto took three of four at home from Kansas City from June 28-July 1, however, scoring at least six runs in each contest.
TV: 8:15 p.m. ET, Sportsnet (Toronto), FS Kansas City
PITCHING MATCHUP: Blue Jays LH Thomas Pannone (2-4, 6.39 ERA) vs. Royals RH Brad Keller (7-9, 3.95)
Pannone is expected to be recalled from Triple-A Buffalo on Monday and Toronto reportedly plans on keeping him in the rotation for the time being. The Rhode Island native made his first start since May 4 and took the loss in Boston on July 18 after giving up four runs on five hits and two walks over 4 1/3 innings. While Pannone has mostly struggled in his 25 major-league appearances this season, he is 3-0 with a 1.65 ERA in six games (five starts) with the Bisons.
Keller turned in one of his best efforts of the season in Wednesday's win at Atlanta, allowing four hits and a walk over seven scoreless innings. The 24-year-old has permitted one run or fewer in three of his four July outings and is 3-0 with a 1.33 ERA this month. Keller began his four-game winning streak with a victory June 30 in Toronto despite surrendering six runs in five frames and is 2-0 with a 5.68 ERA in four career appearances (two starts) versus the Blue Jays.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Blue Jays are expected to promote top prospect SS Bo Bichette to replace Sogard on the roster. Bichette is batting .290 with eight homers, 33 RBIs and 16 steals in 59 games in the minors this year.
2. Royals OF Jorge Soler went 2-for-4 with a solo shot Sunday to extend his on-base streak to an AL-best 24 games.
3. Toronto 3B Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has six multi-hit efforts in the last nine contests and is tied with San Diego's Fernando Tatis Jr. for the most three-hit performances (nine) by a rookie this season.