Blue Jays face tall challenge in Kansas City Royals

Jul 27, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Kansas City Royals first baseman Eric Hosmer (35) celebrates his three-run home run with third baseman Mike Moustakas (8), center fielder Lorenzo Cain (6) and designated hitter Kendrys Morales (25) during the first inning against the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

Across the Diamond: Kansas City Royals

The Royals are in a full sprit towards another deep playoff run, and while much of the credit can go to their starting rotation and fantastic bullpen group, their offense has played very well. As a unit, the Royals rank eighth in the Major Leagues with 431 runs entering play on Wednesday.

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Kansas City boasts the league’s fourth-highest team average at .273 with a top-10 OBP, but Toronto does enter play with a clear advantage in the home run category. KC ranks 23rd in deep balls with 80, well behind the 131 of Toronto.

Star left fielder Alex Gordon remains on the disabled list throughout this series and for the forseeable future, leaving Lorenzo Cain and the newly-acquired Ben Zobrist to lock down the outfield. We know all too well what the versatile Zobrist is capable of, while Cain has exploded with his all around game, batting .313 with 11 home runs, 46 RBI and 18 stolen bases.

All Star third baseman Mike Moustakas has stayed hot at the dish, while Eric Hosmer ranks second on the club with 55 RBI at first base. Kendrys Morales has rounded out the lineup wonderfully for Kansas City, crushing 12 home runs en route to 68 RBI.

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