The Toronto Blue Jays wrap up their series against the Kansas City Royals on Sunday, September 6, 2026, with a 2:10 PM ET first pitch at Kauffman Stadium. Spencer Arrighetti gets the ball for Toronto against Royals right-hander Randy Dobnak. With the regular season winding down, every game in September carries weight, and the Jays will need a strong outing from their starter to keep things rolling against a Kansas City club that features one of the most dangerous shortstops in baseball.

Pitching Matchup: Arrighetti vs. Dobnak

Spencer Arrighetti draws the Sunday assignment for Toronto. The right-hander will need to be sharp against a Royals lineup that can put the ball in play and make things uncomfortable in a hurry. His command and ability to work efficiently through the middle innings will be the central storyline on the mound for the Jays.

Kansas City counters with Randy Dobnak, a pitcher who has shown he can keep lineups off balance with a sinker-heavy approach. Toronto's offense will need to stay disciplined and avoid chasing early — Dobnak thrives when hitters help him out. If the Jays can work counts and find gaps, they have the lineup depth to do real damage.

Toronto Blue Jays Starting Lineup

• Brett Bateman, CF
• Nathan Lukes, RF
• Vladimir Guerrero Jr., DH
• Jesús Sánchez, LF
• Kazuma Okamoto, 3B
• Sean Keys, 1B
• Josh Smith, 2B
• Andrés Giménez, SS
• Brandon Valenzuela, C

Kansas City Royals Starting Lineup

• John Rave, RF
• Bobby Witt Jr., SS
• Vinnie Pasquantino, 1B
• Salvador Perez, DH
• Josh Rojas, 3B
• Nick Loftin, 2B
• Isaac Collins, LF
• Luke Maile, C
• Kyle Isbel, CF

Keys to Watch for the Blue Jays

Keeping Bobby Witt Jr. in Check

Batting second for Kansas City, Bobby Witt Jr. is the engine of this Royals offense. He is the kind of player who can single-handedly change a game with both his bat and his legs. Arrighetti must respect him, attack him carefully, and absolutely cannot let him get comfortable. If Witt gets going early, it becomes a long afternoon for Toronto's defense.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Setting the Tone

Guerrero Jr. hits third in this lineup and is the clear focal point of Toronto's offense. A productive at-bat from Vlad — whether it results in a hit, a walk, or simply a deep count — sets the table for what follows. How Dobnak chooses to attack him will tell you a lot about Kansas City's game plan.

Arrighetti's Efficiency

Toronto's bullpen is a factor in any late-season game. The longer Arrighetti can go while keeping the Royals off the scoreboard, the better positioned the Jays will be heading into the final innings. Getting through six innings without significant damage would be a meaningful contribution.

Prediction

This is a winnable game for Toronto. Dobnak is hittable when the Jays stay disciplined, and the middle of this order — Guerrero Jr., Sánchez, and Okamoto — has the firepower to put crooked numbers on the Kauffman Stadium scoreboard. If Arrighetti gives the Jays five or six solid innings and limits the Witt Jr. damage, Toronto takes this one. Jays 5, Royals 3.

Catch the game on Sportsnet and TVA Sports on TV, or tune in on SN590 THE FAN for radio coverage.