Game of the Week: August 28: TOR @ KC

[Commissioner Erick]

Toronto Blue Jays (76-56) @ Kansas City Royals (79-51)


TOR: Loeck Roenhorst (3-5, 3.71)
KC: D. Hudson (7-8, 4.43)


Blue Jays 5 Key Stats:

0: Eric Drouet Strikeouts in July. Drouet has had a truly sensational year, taking his contact ability to new levels. He didn’t strike out for an entire month, and only has two whiffs this August, both in games against the Cardinals. In fact, Drouet has not struck out against an American League team for 57 Games.

5: Home Runs in Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s last four games: Guerrero terrorized the Yankees over the weekend, clubbing four long balls during the series and driving in 10. They increased Guerrero’s totals on the year to 34 Home Runs and 88 RBIs, easily his highest since his All-Star 2025 Season. Guerrero’s 20 Doubles thus far are three of his career high. After a couple of down years, Guerrero’s Slugging Percentage is back at .550 and it’s no coincidence Toronto is in a playoff race as a result.

.305: Aaron Spigelmyer’s Slugging Percentage: After Toronto’s veteran trades, they needed reinforcements to shore up their team. Spigelmeyer drew a bunch of walks for Toronto—16 in 99 Plate Appearances—but only connected on two home runs and a double with a .220 average. The outfielder also struggled defensively. With seven steals in in nine attempts, he has value and should be up in September, but he’s been demoted to Triple-A Buffalo for the time being.

26: Home Runs for Gary Sanchez: Sanchez is four long balls away from a 12th consecutive 30-homer season. The Slugger has been the pinnacle of consistency and power production from behind the plate. Sanchez now has 50.4 Career WAR, 11th All-time, and first by a hair among Catchers over Francisco Mejia. Sanchez is third all-time in postseason homers, and first among Catchers. He’d love to add to the total this season.

12: Career Starts Before 2028 for Loeck Roenhorst: The Aruban native had been a reliever and swingman on Toronto for four seasons. He appeared in 63 Games in 2024, but just 59 from 2025-2027. He’s worked 43 Games this year, with 13 Starts, more than doubling his career totals. He’s kept the Home Runs down, allowing himself to stay in games. The left-hander vaguely looks like an alien, and went to Florida State—two disconcerting elements. He’ll look to unnerve the Royals today.


Royals 5 Key Stats:


13: Games out of their next 16 against winning teams: Kansas City, whether directly or indirectly, will have a lot to say about the both league’s wild card races. The surging Royals take on Toronto tonight, and following that up with wild card hopefuls in San Francisco for three, and against Oakland for seven. They can hang on for the Wild Card themselves; or surge into the division lead with a run that knocks back the Toronto, Oakland, and San Francisco. They could also come up short, and watch as Oakland and Toronto catch up to them for the final AL playoff spot. The Royals also have a short set in St. Louis, but the close to their season features 11-straight and 14-out-of-16 against teams with losing records.

6.92: Justin Dunn’s August ERA: Dunn has really struggled to pick up the slack after Addison Reed went down to injury. He was really good early in the year, but had a high ERA in June, a high WHIP in July, and his August has been dreadful. A .414 BABIP this month has played a huge part, but he’s allowed six doubles this month alone. Right-handers in particular are hammering Dunn, and Toronto’s best sluggers are righties.

.274: Blake Hunt’s On-Base Percentage: Hunt has started most of Kansas City’s games the past four years, but has ceded more playing time to Brandon Tinsman. Hunt just hasn’t gotten on base. His .216 Average and .344 Slugging Percentage are also the lowest of his career. Tinsman is having the best season of his career so far, hitting .310 with 17 doubles in 74 Games. With Hunt scuffling and Tinsman cracking doubles, the latter has become the starting Catcher.

95: RBIs for Jorge Vargas: Vargas has led the league in RBIs the last two years, but he has some work to do if he wants to three-peat. He’s tied for fifth currently—and incredibly—with Federico Pando, who hasn’t played in the AL in nearly two months. However, Roderick Dalton leads the league with 106 knocked in so far. The slugger is having a bit of a down year compared to the past two years. His average is the lowest of his career, but still strong, and his on-base numbers are still as exceptional as they’ve been. Vargas’ slugging numbers have been mortal though. He’s on pace to finish with 10 fewer home runs than he popped last year, and 16 fewer doubles. Those have also contributed to the slightly fewer RBIs. He’s still an absolute star, but he’ll have some competition for end-of-season hardware.

51: Walks allowed by Kansas City in August: The Royals have allowed the fewest runs in the AL for the month of August, a huge reason they’re 16-8. It’s helped their staff deliver a 3.61 ERA for the month, a few hundredths behind Boston for the top mark in the league. The bullpen has allowed just 19 free passes in the month, so Toronto will have to earn it late.


Questions for the GMs:


For Aaron Dunham, how do you think your team has looked this past month after jettisoning so much talent before the trade deadline?

You’ve had Anderson A. Tejada batting cleanup. Why do you have him between Sanchez and Burger?

You’ve positioned Eric Drouet in Right Field. Why have him play the outfield?

For Daniel Kent, how has prized rookie Bryce Zettel looked to you since being called up. Has he helped you in your quest for the division?

Harland Guenette has only gotten stronger, batting .407 in August. Is he the league’s MVP?

Today, you’re facing past demons in Jake Burger and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. You don’t walk many hitters, but Toronto has a very uneven lineup. Would you like your arms to work carefully to any of Toronto’s hitters?


TRIVIA: Since 2018, Gary Sanchez has led the American League in Home Runs by a Catcher every season but one. Who is the only other player in that stretch to lead the AL in Home Runs for a Catcher?

[kcgm]

1) How has prized rookie Bryce Zettel looked to you since being called up. Has he helped you in your quest for the division?

He's coming off a terrible sim that really hurt his overall major league stats, but in general he's been very promising. Before this short period, he'd put up fantastic numbers with great K/BB ratios. His defense and baserunning have been obscenely bad, which is obviously concerning and his tanked his overall WAR. He was only mediocre in the field throughout his minor league career, so I'm monitoring it closely but am cautiously optimistic his defense will improve on its own. If it does not, I will start playing Vargas more at 1B (which I generally prefer not to) and Zettel at DH, as well as finding a baserunning strategy that suits him better. I'm still very optimistic and excited that Bakos/Vargas/Zettel is going to be the middle of my order for a long time.

2) Harland Guenette has only gotten stronger, batting .407 in August. Is he the league’s MVP?

In any other year, absolutely, but Gabe Bonilla has been otherworldly in Minnesota. Both he and Guenette are having all-time great years, not just MVP level seasons. Before the past month or so I would've said Bonilla had the MVP locked up, but Guenette's scalding August has pulled him very close to Bonilla in OPS and WAR. It looks as though this last month will decide the winner. With the incredible years both are having, it should be a final stretch for the ages.

3) Today, you’re facing past demons in Jake Burger and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. You don’t walk many hitters, but Toronto has a very uneven lineup. Would you like your arms to work carefully to any of Toronto’s hitters?

I don't like putting guys on base if it can be avoided; just be smart and pitch cautiously if the hitter and situation call for it. Go after guys and be aggressive but don't be reckless.

[Commissioner Erick]

Blue Jays 8 - Royals 6


WP: Y. Okubo (1-0)
LP: J. Dunn (3-6)


Kansas City designated hitter Jim Sattler had a good game in a losing cause. His team fell, 8-6, to Toronto at Kauffman Stadium. Sattler went 2-4 with a triple, while adding 3 RBI and scoring once. Toronto reliever Yukitsura Okubo was the winner. His record is now 1-0. Justin Dunn took the loss. Travis Crombie notched his 6th save in 8 chances.

Toronto used the timely hitting of Éric Drouet to seize the win. The right fielder stroked a 2-run single in the top of the eighth inning to put the Blue Jays on top, 6-4. It was his only hit in 5 at-bats, but it was a game-changer.

"The name of the game is scoring runs," Drouet said. "We did a good job of that today."

The win gives Toronto a season record of 77-56.


Questions for the GMs:


For Aaron Dunham, Yukitsura Okubo got his first career win, almost a nice moment. What are your thoughts on his development from someone who was once cut in the Japanese League to someone is winning games for your club?

Roenhorst was fantastic until the sixth. Would you have liked to see him pulled that frame?

You used Tristan Casas as a pinch hitter. It obviously worked out, but did you agree with the move at the time?

For Daniel Kent, you allowed 14 hits, and it was an error by Xavier Edwards that broke things open. How upset are you with your club's defense?

Justin Dunn is really scuffling this month. It was mostly BABIP noise earlier, but the Tejada homer tied the game. Do you need to give him a lesser role for a time?

Your bench really came through today. You must love the versatility your club offers?


TRIVIA: Eric Drouet did not begin his career with Toronto. Who did they acquire him from?

[Commissioner Erick]

Vic correctly guessed Josh Donaldson

[Commissioner Erick]

TRIVIA 1: Matt and Ben correctly guessed Evan Skoug and T.J. Collett