Royals @ Blue Jays (series II)

The Royals (21-26) begin a four game set against the Blue Jays (24-25) tonight in Toronto. The Blue Jays are playing well and the Royals are reeling a little bit...could be a rough end to a rough road trip.


Game 1: Zack Greinke (5-1, 2.18 ERA) against Roy Halladay (4-5, 3.38 ERA)


Greinke has been the most consistent of the Royals starters thus far this season, he has yet to allow more than. His last time out, against Florida, he pitched 6 innings allowing 3 runs in picking up his 5th win. Lifetime Greinke is 1-2, with a 4.05 ERA; in his last outing against Toronto he picked up a no decision despite pitching 7 innings with only 1 run allowed. Kevin Mench has hit Greinke the best going 4 for 10 with 2 doubles and 2 RBI.


Halladay has been his normal spectacular self this season picking up a decision in every start. In his last start Halladay went 6.2 innings in picking up his 4th win. Lifetime Halladay is 7-3, with a 3.11 ERA; he has yet to face the Royals this season. The Royals are hitting a combined .113 against Halladay.


Game 2: Luke Hochevar (3-3, 4.29 ERA) against Jesse Litsch (5-1, 4.22 ERA)


Hochevar has been the Royals most consistent starter outside of Greinke, he has pitched at least 6 innings in every start except his first. In his last start he took the loss against Boston throwing 6 innings allowing 4 runs. Luke Hochevar won his only start against Toronto giving up only 1 run in 6 innings. Greg Zaun and Scott Rolen both are 1 for 2 with a double against Hochevar.


Litsch has been up and down for the Jays, mostly up however. Litsch won his last start against the Twins but only went 5.2 innings. He is 1-1 lifetime vs. the Royals with a 1.98 ERA, he picked up that win in his last outing against the Royals allowing 1 run in 7 innings. Teahen is 3 for 6 against Litsch in the past with a HR and RBI.


Game 3: Gil Meche (3-6, 5.58 ERA) against Dustin McGowan (2-4, 4.21 ERA)


Meche pitched well his last outing in Boston, yet picked up the loss. Meche is 4-5 with a 5.01 ERA lifetime against the Jays, and is 0-1 this year in one outing giving up 3 runs over 6.2 innings. Alexis Rios has given Meche fits going 10-13 against him in the past.


McGowan has been inconsistent so far this year for the Jays, especially in terms of innings per start but he has kept the score down fairly well. McGowan is 0-1 lifetime against the Royals and hasn't faced them this year. Alex Gordon is 3-3 with a HR and 2 RBI vs. McGowan.

Game 4: Brett Tomko (2-5, 5.76 ERA) against Shaun Marcum (4-3, 2.80 ERA)

Tomko continues his up and down season against the Blue Jays in which he is 2-0 with a 6.08 ERA. Tomko lost his last outing in Boston 3-6. Scott Rolen has done damage to Tomko in the past hitting .409 with a homer and 3 RBI.

Kansas City native Marcum has been really good this year, not allowing 4 runs in any start. He has also done well against the Royals with a career 2-1 record with a 1.05 ERA. Only Grudz has at least 2 hits in the past against Marcum as the Royals have a combined .114 BAA.

Orioles @ Royals (series I)

The Royals (15-18) face the Orioles (16-18) for the first time this season and it could be a good time for the Royals as the O's have lost 5 in a row.

Game 1: Daniel Cabrera (2-1, 4.06 ERA) against Luke Hochevar (2-1, 4.86 ERA)

Cabrera, now the Orioles ace, is pitching well so far this year allowing 3 runs or less in his last 5 starts. Cabrera has dominated the Royals in the past going 3-0 with a 2.57 ERA against them in 6 starts. Mark Teahen is 4 for 6 with an RBI in the past against Cabrera.

Luke Hochevar has won his last two starts throwing 6 innings in each allowing a combined 3 runs. Hochevar has never faced the Orioles.

Game 2: Steve Trachsel (1-4, 7.43 ERA) against Gil Meche (2-4, 5.98 ERA)

Steve Trachsel is in a rough patch for the Orioles, he has only gone 3 innings in his last 2 starts while allowing 10 runs. Trachsel has gone 1-3 in 9 starts against the Royals with a 4.81 ERA. Mark Grudzeilanek is 16 for 41 with 6 doubles and 3 RBI against Trachsel.

Gil Meche coming off his best start of the year looks to keep it going against the O's. In 15 previous starts Gil is 4-4 with a 2.95 ERA against the Orioles. Brian Roberts has given Meche fits in the past going 13-30 with 1 HR and 4 RBI.

Game 3: Garret Olson (1-0, 2.08 ERA) against Brett Tomko (1-3, 4.98 ERA)

Olson has two starts under his belt this season and has done well going 6 plus in each allowing a combined 3 runs. Olson has never faced the Royals.

Brett Tomko, like Meche, pitched his best start of the year his last outing throwing 7 shutout innings allowing only 2 hits. Tomko has no decisions against the Orioles in one start but has a 7.11 ERA. Kevin Millar is hitting .600 with 1 HR and 5 RBI against Meche.

Game 4: Brian Burres (3-3, 3.19 ERA0 against Brian Bannister (3-4, 4.46 ERA)

Brian Burres is pitching well allowing 3 runs or less in 6 of is 7 starts. Burres has only faced the Royals for one inning of relief and pitched a scoreless inning; only Jose Guillen has a hit against Burres, going 3 for 7.

Brian Bannister is struggling losing his last 4 outings and raising his ERA from .86 to 4.48. Bannister has never faced the Orioles.

Angels @ Royals (series II)

The Royals return home to kick off their longest homestand of the year against the Anaheim Angels;The two teams split their last meeting. The Royals stand at 14-16 and the Angels are 20-13.

Game 1: Ervin Santana (5-0, 2.47 ERA) against Brett Tomko (1-3, 6.26 ERA)

The Royals have avoided Santana thus far this season and that is a good thing as he is off to the best start of his career. Santana is 1-2 in 4 starts against KC with an ERA of 6.04. German has hit Santana the best going 5-8 with a HR and 3 RBI.

Tomko has been giving up a ton of runs lately, 16 in his last 14.1 innings to be exact. Tomko is 0-1 in 3 starts against Anaheim. Erick Aybar has hit Tomko the best going 4-6 with an RBI.

Game 2: Nick Adenhart (0-0, 22.50 ERA) against Brian Bannister (3-3, 4.05 ERA)

Rookie right-hander Nick Adenhart has only one Major League start, going just 2 innings againt Oakland on May 1st. No Royal has ever faced him in a MLB game.

Bannister after his 3-0 start has now last lost 3 in a row. His last outing against Texas he was rocked for 7 runs in just 3 innings. Bannister has never faced the Angels and only Hunter has had any plate appearances going just 2-9 with 1 RBI.

Game 3: Jared Weaver (2-4, 4.36 ERA) against Zack Greinke (3-1, 1.47 ERA)

Jared Weaver has been roughed up a little in his last 3 starts but is still sporting a respectable 4.36 ERA. Weaver lost his last start against the Royals going 6 innings and giving up 2 runs; for his career Weaver is 2-3 in 5 starts against the Royals with a sparkling 1.93 ERA. Jose Guillen has hit Weaver well going 6-16 with 4 RBI.

Zack Greinke has been everything the Royals have wanted so far this season allowing only 7 runs in 6 starts. Greinke is 0-2 in 2 starts against the Angels with an 8.49 ERA. Hunter is 6 for 19 with 2 HR's and 5 RBI.