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Royals-Blue Jays Preview

Apr 21, 2010 - 3:46 AM By MATT BEARDMORE STATS Writer

Kansas City (5-8) at Toronto (8-6), 12:37 p.m. EDT

Zack Greinke won his first six starts last season en route to the AL Cy Young Award. Earning one victory would be an accomplishment the way 2010 has started for him.

Greinke gets the ball Wednesday in the series finale at Rogers Centre, where the Kansas City Royals try to salvage one game against the Toronto Blue Jays.

During his 6-0 start in 2009, Greinke (0-2, 3.57 ERA) threw three complete games and allowed two earned runs while walking only eight. The right-hander has given up seven earned runs and six bases on balls so far.

"I just think my mind's not right on how to pitch because every game I've been able to throw the ball close to where I want," Greinke said after walking five in five innings of Friday's 10-3 loss at Minnesota. "I'm just not getting the job done."

Pitching in Toronto might not be the place to change that as Greinke is 1-4 with a 7.07 ERA in five career starts there. In his one appearance in Toronto last year, he allowed a season-high seven runs and nine hits over five innings in a 9-3 loss on June 5.

The Royals (5-9) will look for a better outing from Greinke after dropping the first two games of this series. Kansas City's 4-3 loss on Tuesday clinched a ninth consecutive series loss at Rogers Centre since taking two of three from Aug. 19-21, 2002.

"We've got to figure out a way to win a game here," said Royals manager Trey Hillman.

Figuring out a way to get Vernon Wells out might be a good start. Toronto's center fielder had two doubles and a solo homer Tuesday to raise his batting average to .364. Wells' major league high-tying seventh home run was also his 737th career RBI, pushing him past Joe Carter for third on the franchise list.

"He's off to a great start and I just hope he continues to go that way and stay healthy," Blue Jays manager Cito Gaston said.

Wells has four hits in 19 career at-bats against Greinke.

Blue Jays first baseman Lyle Overbay has fared better against the Royals' ace, going 7 for 15 with two homers and five RBIs. Overbay is 3 for 5 with three walks in the series after batting .080 in the Blue Jays' first 13 games.

Capping off its 10-game homestand, Toronto (9-6) gives the ball to Shaun Marcum (0-1, 4.05), who is looking for his first victory since Sept. 11, 2008. The right-hander missed a portion of that season with a strained right elbow, and all of 2009 following Tommy John surgery.

Making his first start in Toronto in 19 months, Marcum allowed four runs and seven hits over seven innings in Friday's 7-5 loss to the Los Angeles Angels.

"He's still one of the best pitchers in the league that don't have a win," Gaston said.

Marcum is 2-0 with a 1.35 ERA in two career home starts versus Kansas City.

Royals catcher Jason Kendall, who is 3 for 5 lifetime against Marcum, had two hits Tuesday and is batting .360 during a 13-game hitting streak.

Blue Jays catcher John Buck faces his former team for the first time since signing a one-year deal with Toronto in the offseason. Buck batted .235 with 70 homers and 259 RBIs in six seasons with Kansas City.

Scott Podsednik is expected back in the Royals' lineup after missing the last two games due to a family emergency. He is among the league leaders with a .457 batting average.