Blue Jays Lineup...
1. Jose Bautista ® DH
2. Russell Martin ® C
3. Josh Donaldson ® 3B
4. Kendrys Morales (S) 1B
5. Troy Tulowitzki ® SS
6. Dwight Smith Jr. (L) LF
7. Kevin Pillar ® CF
8. Ryan Goins (L) 2B
9. Ian Parmley (L) RF
JA Happ, LHP
Happ initially struggled after returning from the DL but he turned things around over his last two starts. He has allowed three runs with 17 strikeouts and just one walk over his last 12 2/3 innings.
Royals Lineup...
1. Whit Merrifield ® 2B
2. Jorge Bonifacio ® RF
3. Lorenzo Cain ® CF
4. Eric Hosmer (L) 1B
5. Salvador Perez ® C
6. Mike Moustakas (L) 3B
7. Brandon Moss (L) DH
8. Alcides Escobar ® SS
9. Alex Gordon (L) LF
Jake Junis RHP
Junis, who will make his fifth straight start since an early June callup, has given up 12 runs in 16 innings over his past three starts. He's surrendered at least one home run in each outing and took his first loss on Saturday.
PREVIEW...
By Wilson Alexander / MLB.com
J.A. Happ will look to post a third straight quality start while Jake Junis hopes to keep the baseball in the yard when the Blue Jays and Royals play at Kauffman Stadium on Friday in the first game of a three-game series.
Happ (2-4, 4.26 ERA) spent most of the month of May on the disabled list. The left-hander struggled in his first two starts when he returned, giving up seven runs and four home runs over 9 1/3 innings. But in his last two outings, Happ has given up three runs and no home runs in 12 2/3 innings while striking out 17 batters. Both outings were Blue Jays victories.
In his last three starts, Junis (2-1, 5.56 ERA) has allowed a combined six home runs. The rookie right-hander was pounded by the Angels last time out, giving up five runs on eight hits in his first loss. He surrendered home runs to Cameron Maybin and Albert Pujols and now faces a Toronto team that relies heavily on the long ball.
• The Royals have had some success against Happ, as designated hitter Brandon Moss, left fielder Alex Gordon and center fielder Lorenzo Cain are all batting above .450 against him. On the other hand, shortstop Alcides Escobar is batting .067 (1-for-15) against Happ.
• From his first two MLB starts to his past two, Junis raised his swinging-strike rate from 5.9 percent to 15.3 percent, according to Statcast. On the other hand, his average distance allowed on fly balls and liners jumped from 282 feet to 325 feet as he allowed five home runs -- all of them on fastballs.
• Both the Blue Jays and the Royals have struggled to get above a .500 record this season. The Royals haven't been at .500 since April 19, while the Blue Jays haven't reached the mark at all.
LETS GO BLUE JAYS *CLAP, CLAP* *CLAP, CLAP, CLAP*
LETS GO BLUE JAYS *CLAP, CLAP* *CLAP, CLAP, CLAP*
LETS GO BLUE JAYS *CLAP, CLAP* *CLAP, CLAP, CLAP*
Hey Royals...
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