Playoff-seeking Jays host hot Royals tonight with 30 games left in regular season

Toronto Blue Jays, with 30 games left in their regular season, host Kansas City Royals tonight in a crucial playoff chase. The Jays find themselves two games behind the Cleveland Guardians for the third and final American League wild-card berth. The Royals, who have won eight games in a row, are currently six games behind Toronto in the wild-card race.

Pitching will be led by Toronto's veteran Max Scherzer, facing Kansas City's Seth Lugo. The teams will square off again tomorrow and Thursday, followed by a three-game weekend series against the Seattle Mariners, who sit a game behind the Blue Jays.

Toronto has won 13 of their last 22 games, including seven consecutive series victories until falling to the Yankees in New York over the weekend. Their remaining opponents have a combined winning percentage of .464. Fifteen of their final 30 games will be played at Rogers Centre.