Kansas City @ Toronto preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 30, 2013 ) Kansas City 2, Toronto 3

No matter how well the Kansas City Royals have been playing, they still find themselves well back in the American League playoff picture - and losses like the one they suffered Friday won't help the cause. The Royals look to get back to their winning ways as they resume their three-game series with the host Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday. Toronto opened the weekend set with a 3-2 victory, halting Kansas City's five-game winning streak.

Kansas City failed to take advantage of a Blue Jays team already looking toward 2014, with Friday's loss dropping the Royals 6 1/2 games back of Tampa Bay for the second AL wild card berth. Jeremy Guthrie is tasked with evening the series, and is also seeking his career-best 14th win of the season. He'll be opposed by knuckleballer R.A. Dickey, who hopes to build on a strong home showing in his last start.

TV: 1:07 p.m. ET, RSN (Toronto)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Royals RH Jeremy Guthrie (13-10, 4.19 ERA) vs. Blue Jays RH R.A. Dickey (10-12, 4.39)

After three consecutive subpar outings, Guthrie labored to a victory over Tampa Bay in his last outing - throwing 108 pitches over five innings but limiting the Rays to a run on six hits. The Kansas City bullpen has been Guthrie's biggest ally so far in 2013, compiling a 1.40 ERA in relief of the 34-year-old - the lowest mark for any pitcher with at least 10 starts. Guthrie last faced the Blue Jays in 2011, limiting them to three hits over seven scoreless innings.

Home struggles have dogged Dickey all season, but the National League Cy Young Award winner put those behind him last time out. Dickey held the New York Yankees to two runs - one earned - over 6 1/3 innings to record his first victory at the Rogers Centre since July 1. The 38-year-old Tennessee native is 2-3 with a 4.79 ERA in five starts and six relief appearances against the Royals.

WALK-OFFS

1. Dickey is one loss away from equaling his career high set with the New York Mets in 2011.

2. Royals INF Emilio Bonifacio - acquired from Toronto earlier this month - is 2-for-15 lifetime versus Dickey.

3. Toronto leads the season series 3-1.

PREDICTION: Blue Jays 6, Royals 2