Kansas City @ Toronto preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 2, 2012 ) Kansas City 11, Toronto 3

The Kansas City Royals posted a season-best run total in the opening game of the series against the Toronto Blue Jays. The Royals will look for a similar effort on Tuesday after Mike Moustakas had a career-best five RBIs and hit his first career grand slam in an 11-3 victory in the series opener. Toronto fell to an even .500 and is in last place in the American League East.

Blue Jays slugger Jose Bautista hit his major-league leading 27th homer of the season on Monday. He was named American League Player of the Month for June after setting a club record with 14 homers in a single month. Monday’s loss was the fifth in seven games for Toronto. Kansas City snapped a three-game skid while beating Toronto for the first time in five attempts this season. The Royals matched a season-best with 14 hits to move within 5 1/2 games of the first-place Chicago White Sox in the AL Central.

TV: 7:07 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Kansas City, Rogers Sportsnet (Toronto)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Royals RH Vin Mazzaro (3-2, 4.74 ERA) vs. Blue Jays LH Brett Cecil (1-1, 6.06 ERA)

Mazzaro is making his first start since being roughed up for seven runs and six hits in 1 1/3 innings by the St. Louis Cardinals on June 22. He pitched 2 1/3 scoreless innings of relief against the Minnesota Twins on Saturday. Mazzaro is 0-2 with an 11.70 ERA in two career starts against Toronto.

Cecil was torched by the Los Angeles Angels in his last outing when he gave up eight runs and 10 hits in 5 1/3 innings. He gave up just three runs in 11 innings in his first two starts after being recalled the minor leagues in mid-June. Cecil is 0-1 with a 5.68 ERA in two career starts against Kansas City.

WALK-OFFS:

1. Royals shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt is batting .364 over his 21 games.

2. Bautista was chosen as one of the American League representatives for the Home Run Derby.

3. Kansas City All-Star Billy Butler is 4-for-7 with two walks against Mazzaro.