The Toronto Blue Jays close out 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 start for Toronto opposite Kansas City's Randy Dobnak in what shapes up as an intriguing pitching matchup between two arms working to make their mark in the rotation. With the regular season winding toward its final weeks, every game in the standings carries real weight — and a road win in Kansas City would be a meaningful pickup for the Jays.
Starting Pitchers: Spencer Arrighetti vs. Randy Dobnak
Arrighetti gets the ball for Toronto on Sunday. The right-hander has been part of the Blue Jays' rotation conversation this season, and Sunday's outing gives him a chance to log a quality start against a Royals lineup that can be dangerous when things click. The key for Arrighetti will be keeping the ball in the park and getting ahead in counts — road starts in a hitter-friendly environment like Kauffman demand command and efficiency.
On the other side, Kansas City sends out Randy Dobnak. Dobnak has shown flashes of effectiveness but has also had stretches where he's been hittable. The Blue Jays' lineup will need to stay disciplined at the plate and work counts to get into the Kansas City bullpen early if Dobnak is dealing.
Keys to Watch for the Blue Jays
- Arrighetti's command: Walks are the enemy in a road environment. If Arrighetti can pound the strike zone and keep the Royals from working walks into big innings, Toronto has a real shot to steal this one.
- Capitalizing against Dobnak: The Blue Jays need to be patient but aggressive. Dobnak is susceptible to hard contact when hitters don't chase — Toronto's lineup has to stay within the game plan and not expand the zone.
- Bullpen management: Late September approaching, roster depth matters. How the Blue Jays manage their bullpen in the later innings will be worth tracking, especially if the game stays tight through six.
- Situational hitting: Road wins are built on capitalizing with runners in scoring position. Toronto can't afford to strand traffic if they want to leave Kansas City with a series win.
Prediction
This is a winnable game for Toronto. Arrighetti has the stuff to keep Kansas City's lineup off-balance, and Dobnak is the kind of starter the Blue Jays should be able to get to if they're patient. Call it a 5-3 Toronto win — Arrighetti goes five or six solid innings, the bullpen closes it out, and the Jays grab a road series result to carry into the final stretch of the regular season.
Catch all the action on Sportsnet, TVA Sports, or on radio at SN590 THE FAN. First pitch from Kauffman Stadium is set for 2:10 PM ET on Sunday, September 6.
