Series preview: Blue Jays at Kansas City Royals

Friday, 8 p.m. LH Francisco Liriano (6-11, 5.46) vs. RH Dillon Gee (3-5, 4.66) Saturday, 7 p.m. RH Aaron Sanchez (11-1, 2.71) vs. LHP Danny Duffy (7-1, 2.98) Sunday, 2 p.m. RH Marcus Stroman (8-4, 4.74) vs. RH Yordano Ventura (6-9, 4.83) All games on Sportsnet and SN590

Key players

Russell Martin, Jays: After a dreadful slump to start the season, the Jays’ veteran catcher has heated up through the summer. He’s still not hitting for as much power as he has in recent years, but he’s hitting .317 over the last month, better than all American League catchers. Curiously, after leading the AL last year by throwing out 44 per cent of would-be base stealers, his caught-stealing percentage this season has sunk to 13 per

cent, the lowest rate of any starting catcher.

Salvador Perez, Royals: The Royals’ stalwart catcher leads all AL backstops with 16 homers this season (tied with Washington’s Wilson Ramos for the major-league lead). The strong defender also leads the majors with a 54-per-cent caughtstealing percentage and 10 defensive runs saved. The 10 defensive runs saved are more than twice that of any AL catcher.

Need to know: Last year’s World Series champions currently sit second-last in the American League Central division, 11 games back of first-place Cleveland . . . The Jays swept Kansas City last month in Toronto in the teams’ only other meeting this season . . . Friday marks Francisco Liriano’s debut with the Blue Jays after he was acquired from the Pittsburgh Pirates on Monday.

On deck: vs. Tampa Bay Rays, Monday to Wednesday. Brendan Kennedy