Kansas City @ Toronto preview

Kansas City at Toronto

Last Meeting ( Apr 14, 2013 ) Toronto 2, Kansas City 3

The Kansas City Royals appeared on the verge of fading out of the playoff picture a week ago, but look to extend a five-game winning streak on Friday when they travel to Toronto for the first of three games against the Blue Jays. The Royals dropped seven in a row from Aug.17-24, but have righted the ship by outscoring the opposition 34-8 since. Kansas City is six games back of Oakland for the second wild-card spot in the American League and 8 1/2 games behind Detroit in the AL Central.

The Blue Jays are essentially where the Royals were a week ago – losers of eight of their last 11 – but well out of postseason contention. However, they enter this series after taking two of three at home from the New York Yankees, one of the three teams the Royals must clear before getting to Oakland in the wild-card race. Toronto won two of the first three meetings against Kansas City from April 12-14 and can ensure itself a season split with a victory on Friday.

TV: 7:07 p.m. ET, FSN (Kansas City), RSN (Toronto)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Royals RH Ervin Santana (8-7, 3.21 ERA) vs. Blue Jays LH Mark Buehrle (10-7, 4.08)

Coming off an uncharacteristic start that included getting struck by a third-inning comebacker, Santana gave up four runs on a season-high 11 hits – including three homers – over 6 2/3 innings in a no-decision during Sunday’s win over Washington. Prior to his last turn, the 30-year-old had allowed two or more earned runs only twice in his seven outings since the All-Star break. Santana, who went eight frames in a no-decision versus Toronto on April 14, is 6-5 with a 3.73 ERA in 15 career starts against the Blue Jays.

Buehrle continued his second-half resurgence in Sunday’s 2-1 victory, yielding one run on seven hits over eight innings to give him double-digit wins for the 13th straight season. The Missouri native, who hasn’t suffered a loss since July 20, improved to 5-1 with a 2.41 ERA since the Midsummer Classic and has shaved nearly three runs off his season-high 7.02 ERA on May 6. Buehrle hasn’t faced the Royals this season, but is 22-12 with a 3.73 ERA against them in 51 all-time appearances (49 starts).

WALK-OFFS

1. Royals DH Billy Butler, who is batting .358 with five homers and 16 RBIs in August, is 20-for-57 against Buehrle.

2. Toronto SS Ryan Goins has opened his major-league career with a six-game hitting streak, collecting multiple hits in four of them.

3. Kansas City has stolen 28 bases over its last 16 games and leads the majors with 121.

PREDICTION: Blue Jays 4, Royals 2