MLB Game Preview: Kansas City Royals (54-55) vs. Toronto Blue Jays (64-46)

Game Details

• Date: Friday, August 1, 2025
• Time: 7:07 PM ET
• Venue: Rogers Centre, Toronto, ON
• Broadcast: MLB.TV, ESPN
• Season Series: First meeting of 2025

Team Overview & Momentum

Kansas City Royals (54–55)

• Division Standing: 3rd in AL Central
• Recent Form: 7–3 in last 10 games
• Road Record: 26–27
• Key Players:
  • Bobby Witt Jr.: .288 AVG, 36 doubles, 15 HR, 33 BB
  • Maikel Garcia: .301 AVG, 10 HR, 46 RBI
  • Salvador Perez: 18 HR, 4 HR in last 10 games
• Pitching Starter: Michael Wacha (4–9, 3.53 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 90 K)
• Team Strengths:

• Strong second-half start (7–5)
• Improved pitching: 3.66 ERA over last 10 games

Toronto Blue Jays (64–46)

• Division Standing: 1st in AL East
• Recent Form: 5–5 in last 10 games
• Home Record: 37–17
• Key Players:
  • Bo Bichette: 32 doubles, 13 HR, .283 career AVG at Rogers Centre
  • Vladimir Guerrero Jr.: .295 AVG, 15 HR, 66 BB
  • George Springer: 18 HR, day-to-day (head injury)
• Pitching Starter: Kevin Gausman (7–7, 3.82 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 122 K)
• Team Strengths:

• 46–3 when scoring 5+ runs
• High-powered offense with .309 AVG over last 10 games

• Pitching Matchup:

• Wacha: 3.10 ERA in July, but 1–2 career vs. Toronto with 5.20 ERA
• Gausman: Reliable at home, 3.82 ERA, 122 K

Key Storylines

• Trade Deadline Buzz:
  • Blue Jays: Acquired Shane Bieber (recovering from Tommy John), Louis Varland, Ty France
  • Royals: Added Mike Yastrzemski, Bailey Falter, and traded Freddy Fermin
• Injury Watch:
  • Blue Jays: George Springer (head), Shane Bieber (elbow), Alejandro Kirk (concussion)
  • Royals: Jac Caglianone (hamstring), Cole Ragans (rotator cuff), Mark Canha (elbow)
• Offensive Trends:

• Blue Jays hitting .309 over last 10 games but struggling with ERA (6.07)
• Royals outscoring opponents by 13 runs in last 10 games