Toronto @ Kansas City preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 15, 2018 ) Toronto 6, Kansas City 5

Kevin Pillar and the Toronto Blue Jays have enjoyed their matchups with the host Kansas City Royals and get one more crack at the American League Central doormats when the teams complete their four-game series on Thursday. The Blue Jays have taken two of the first three contests in the set, riding Curtis Granderson's grand slam and Pillar's two RBIs to a 6-5 triumph in Wednesday's matchup to improve to 5-1 versus the Royals this year.

Pillar is 10-for-23 with eight RBIs in the season series and a .389 hitter in 11 career games at Kauffman Stadium. Kansas City fell to 2-8 on its 11-game homestand despite receiving a pair of homers and three RBIs from Salvador Perez. The All-Star catcher is 7-for-17 with five extra-base hits, four RBIs and four runs scored during a four-game stretch. Sam Gaviglio made four appearances (two starts) with Kansas City last season before being traded to Toronto in March, and he will make his return to Kauffman Stadium to oppose Glenn Sparkman, who appeared in two games for the Blue Jays in 2017.

TV: 8:15 p.m. ET, Sportsnet, TVA (Toronto), FS Kansas City

PITCHING MATCHUP: Blue Jays RH Sam Gaviglio (2-5, 4.86 ERA) vs. Royals RH Glenn Sparkman (0-1, 5.06)

Gaviglio worked into the sixth inning on Saturday for the second straight start and allowed just one earned run in a tough loss to Tampa Bay. He has registered 14 strikeouts against three walks over 11 frames in his last two outings. The 28-year-old went 1-0 with a 3.00 ERA with the Royals last season.

Sparkman came up in the Kansas City organization before being selected by the Blue Jays in the 2016 Rule 5 draft. The 26-year-old will be making his first career start after posting an 8.47 ERA in 10 relief outings over the last two years. He worked a career-high 4 1/3 innings against St. Louis on Aug. 10, when he yielded two runs and four hits.

WALK-OFFS

1. Kansas City has played a franchise-record 15 straight errorless games.

2. Toronto has won each of its last four one-run games and is 17-12 in such affairs.

3. Royals 1B-DH Ryan O'Hearn has hit two homers in three at-bats during the series.

PREDICTION: Blue Jays 6, Royals 4