Kansas City @ Toronto preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 7, 2009 ) Kansas City 0, Toronto 4

Brian Bannister will take the mound for the Kansas City Royals on Monday night to start a three-game series with the Toronto Blue Jays, who counter with converted reliever Brandon Morrow.
Bannister (0-0, 2.19 ERA) is off to a good start despite the fact that he does not have a win yet this season. In two starts - both against the Detroit Tigers - he has pitched 12 1/3 innings and has allowed just three runs on 10 hits. He's walked two and has struck out seven.
The 29-year-old Bannister came up in the New York Mets organization but landed with Kansas City in 2007. It's been a mixed bag for Bannister since then, but the right-hander appears on track to perform as a solid middle-of-the-rotation hurler in 2010.
Bannister is 1-1 with a 3.09 ERA in his career versus Toronto. He has not faced many of the hitters in Toronto's lineup, but he's had success against the guys he has faced. Alex Gonzalez is 1-for-4 versus Bannister, Lyle Overbay is batting just .167 against him and Vernon Wells and Travis Snider are hitless in a combined eight at-bats.
In addition, the Blue Jays' bats have been cold lately. Toronto scored only one run Sunday in a 3-1 loss to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, and it has scored only four runs in its last two games, both losses. The Blue Jays enter the game on a three-game losing streak and having lost four of their last five after starting the season with a 6-2 mark.
Wells, who started the season on a tear, has cooled a bit the last two games. He has only one hit in his last eight at-bats.
On the other side, Morrow (0-1, 12.00 ERA) is 1-3 with an 8.68 ERA in his career against the Royals. David DeJesus has feasted on Morrow's offerings, batting .429 with two homers and three RBIs in seven at-bats against the 25-year-old right-hander.
Morrow missed some time during spring training, but was able to begin the season in the rotation. He has struggled, though, and has not gotten past the fifth inning in either of his first two starts.
The Royals are 3-3 on the road this year after a 10-5 victory Sunday in Minnesota. Alberto Callaspo (.292, 3 HR, 10 RBI) his two three-run homers in that game to lead a Kansas City offense that seems to coming together.
Along with DeJesus (.300) and Callaspo, Scott Podsednik is batting .457 and has seven stolen bases already. Billy Butler (.319) and Jose Guillen (.367) are off to good starts, and third baseman Alex Gordon had a hit in his return from the disabled list on Sunday.