<p>After George Springer hit a lead-off home run on the sixth pitch of the game, the <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/">Toronto Blue Jays</a> were on top of the world on Friday.</p>
<p></p>
<p>For about 20 minutes, before Max Scherzer gave up seven earned runs and was unable to get out of the first inning. The game snowballed from there, as the <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/instant-reaction-max-scherzer-struggles-kansas-city-royals-20-runs-toronto-blue-jays">Kansas City Royals eventually won 20-1</a>, meaning the Jays&#8217; day to clinch a postseason berth was pushed back another day.</p>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>With the Detroit Tigers&#8217; loss on Saturday afternoon, all the Blue Jays need to do to clinch a postseason spot is win Saturday&#8217;s game. The good news is that their big trade deadline pickup, Shane Bieber, is on the mound. Last time out, the 30-year-old righty went six innings of one-run ball, picking up his second quality start of the season. Opposite to him will be Kansas City Royals&#8217; rookie Noah Cameron, a left-handed pitcher.</p>
<p>So with a lefty on the mound, Daulton Varsho is the only left-handed batter in the Jays&#8217; lineup &#8211; he&#8217;s batting sixth. <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/where-george-springer-stand-2025-al-mvp-race">Springer</a> leads off, followed by Davis Schneider and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Alejandro Kirk cleans up, while Ty France returns to the starting lineup. The bottom third is comprised of Ernie Clement, Isiah Kiner-Falefa, and Myles Straw.</p>
<p>Aside from Springer&#8217;s lead-off home run in Friday&#8217;s game, the offence struggled, mustering just three hits. This has been a problem dating back to the start of the week, as their offence was cold in the <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/series-recap-toronto-blue-jays-split-series-rays-penultimate-road-series">series against the Tampa Bay Rays</a>.</p>
<p>As noted earlier, the Blue Jays have an opportunity to clinch a playoff berth with a victory, as the Tigers had a 5-3 lead in the top of the eighth, but allowed a run that inning as well as two runs in the top of the ninth. The Cleveland Guardians have also played, winning once again, but play the second game of a doubleheader later this evening at 7:10 PM ET. In the American League West, the Seattle Mariners and Houston Astros play at 7:10 PM ET, as the Mariners took the series opener.</p>
<p>What&#8217;s more important for the Blue Jays is the American League East. The Boston Red Sox defeated the Rays on Friday, meaning they move to five games behind the Blue Jays. Game two of that series starts at 7:05 PM ET. Thankfully, the Baltimore Orioles defeated the New York Yankees, meaning the Blue Jays maintain their three-game lead (<a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/5-teams-blue-jays-hold-tiebreaker-over-and-why-they-matter">with a tiebreaker</a>) over the Bronx Bombers.</p>
<hr />
<p><strong>Location: Kansas City, Missouri </strong></p>
<p><strong>First Pitch: 7:10 PM ET</strong></p>
<p><strong>Watch/Listen: Sportsnet, SN 590</strong></p>
<h2>Starting Pitchers</h2>
<p><strong>Toronto Blue Jays &#8211; Shane Bieber:</strong> 3-1 record, 3.72 ERA, 29 IP, 30 SO, 4 BB</p>
<p><strong>Kansas City Royals &#8211; Noah Cameron: </strong>8-7 record, 2.98 ERA, 127 IP, 103 SO, 37 BB</p>
<h2>Lineups:</h2>
<p><strong>Blue Jays:</strong></p>
<ol>
<li>George Springer &#8211; RF</li>
<li>Davis Schneider &#8211; 2B</li>
<li>Vladimir Guerrero Jr. &#8211; DH</li>
<li>Alejandro Kirk &#8211; C</li>
<li>Ty France &#8211; 1B</li>
<li>Daulton Varsho &#8211; CF</li>
<li>Ernie Clement &#8211; SS</li>
<li>Isiah Kiner-Falefa &#8211; 3B</li>
<li>Myles Straw &#8211; LF</li>
</ol>
<p><strong>Royals:</strong></p>
<ol>
<li>Carter Jensen &#8211; DH</li>
<li>Bobby Witt Jr. &#8211; SS</li>
<li>Vinnie Pasquantino &#8211; 1B</li>
<li>Maikel García &#8211; 3B</li>
<li>Salvador Perez &#8211; C</li>
<li>Mike Yastrzemski &#8211; CF</li>
<li>Adam Fraizer &#8211; LF</li>
<li>Jac Caglianone. RF</li>
<li>Michael Massey &#8211; 2B</li>
</ol>
<hr />
<p><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/author/ryley-delaney">Blue Jays Nation</a>, <a href="https://oilersnation.com/author/ryley-delaney">Oilersnation</a>, and <a href="https://flamesnation.ca/author/ryley-delaney">FlamesNation</a>. She can be followed on Twitter <a href="https://x.com/Ryley__Delaney">@Ryley__Delaney</a>.</span></i></p>
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After George Springer hit a lead-off home run on the sixth pitch of the game, the <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/">Toronto Blue Jays</a> were on top of the world on Friday.



For about 20 minutes, before Max Scherzer gave up seven earned runs and was unable to get out of the first inning. The game snowballed from there, as the <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/instant-reaction-max-scherzer-struggles-kansas-city-royals-20-runs-toronto-blue-jays">Kansas City Royals eventually won 20-1</a>, meaning the Jays' day to clinch a postseason berth was pushed back another day.
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&nbsp;

With the Detroit Tigers' loss on Saturday afternoon, all the Blue Jays need to do to clinch a postseason spot is win Saturday's game. The good news is that their big trade deadline pickup, Shane Bieber, is on the mound. Last time out, the 30-year-old righty went six innings of one-run ball, picking up his second quality start of the season. Opposite to him will be Kansas City Royals' rookie Noah Cameron, a left-handed pitcher.

So with a lefty on the mound, Daulton Varsho is the only left-handed batter in the Jays' lineup - he's batting sixth. <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/where-george-springer-stand-2025-al-mvp-race">Springer</a> leads off, followed by Davis Schneider and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Alejandro Kirk cleans up, while Ty France returns to the starting lineup. The bottom third is comprised of Ernie Clement, Isiah Kiner-Falefa, and Myles Straw.

Aside from Springer's lead-off home run in Friday's game, the offence struggled, mustering just three hits. This has been a problem dating back to the start of the week, as their offence was cold in the <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/series-recap-toronto-blue-jays-split-series-rays-penultimate-road-series">series against the Tampa Bay Rays</a>.

As noted earlier, the Blue Jays have an opportunity to clinch a playoff berth with a victory, as the Tigers had a 5-3 lead in the top of the eighth, but allowed a run that inning as well as two runs in the top of the ninth. The Cleveland Guardians have also played, winning once again, but play the second game of a doubleheader later this evening at 7:10 PM ET. In the American League West, the Seattle Mariners and Houston Astros play at 7:10 PM ET, as the Mariners took the series opener.

What's more important for the Blue Jays is the American League East. The Boston Red Sox defeated the Rays on Friday, meaning they move to five games behind the Blue Jays. Game two of that series starts at 7:05 PM ET. Thankfully, the Baltimore Orioles defeated the New York Yankees, meaning the Blue Jays maintain their three-game lead (<a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/5-teams-blue-jays-hold-tiebreaker-over-and-why-they-matter">with a tiebreaker</a>) over the Bronx Bombers.

<hr />

<strong>Location: Kansas City, Missouri </strong>

<strong>First Pitch: 7:10 PM ET</strong>

<strong>Watch/Listen: Sportsnet, SN 590</strong>
<h2>Starting Pitchers</h2>
<strong>Toronto Blue Jays - Shane Bieber:</strong> 3-1 record, 3.72 ERA, 29 IP, 30 SO, 4 BB

<strong>Kansas City Royals - Noah Cameron: </strong>8-7 record, 2.98 ERA, 127 IP, 103 SO, 37 BB
<h2>Lineups:</h2>
<strong>Blue Jays:</strong>
<ol>
 	<li>George Springer - RF</li>
 	<li>Davis Schneider - 2B</li>
 	<li>Vladimir Guerrero Jr. - DH</li>
 	<li>Alejandro Kirk - C</li>
 	<li>Ty France - 1B</li>
 	<li>Daulton Varsho - CF</li>
 	<li>Ernie Clement - SS</li>
 	<li>Isiah Kiner-Falefa - 3B</li>
 	<li>Myles Straw - LF</li>
</ol>
<strong>Royals:</strong>
<ol>
 	<li>Carter Jensen - DH</li>
 	<li>Bobby Witt Jr. - SS</li>
 	<li>Vinnie Pasquantino - 1B</li>
 	<li>Maikel García - 3B</li>
 	<li>Salvador Perez - C</li>
 	<li>Mike Yastrzemski - CF</li>
 	<li>Adam Fraizer - LF</li>
 	<li>Jac Caglianone. RF</li>
 	<li>Michael Massey - 2B</li>
</ol>

<hr />

<i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/author/ryley-delaney">Blue Jays Nation</a>, <a href="https://oilersnation.com/author/ryley-delaney">Oilersnation</a>, and <a href="https://flamesnation.ca/author/ryley-delaney">FlamesNation</a>. She can be followed on Twitter <a href="https://x.com/Ryley__Delaney">@Ryley__Delaney</a>.</span></i>

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