The Royals will head up north to Toronto for the first time since their infamous trip in 2022 when ten players had to be left behind due to COVID vaccination restrictions. Those restrictions have been lifted, and ironically, Whit Merrifield was one of those players, now plays for the Blue Jays. He received flak for his comments suggesting he would be vaccinated for a contender, but not the Royals, and was traded a few weeks later.
The Blue Jays are 11.5 games back of the first place Orioles in a stacked division, but they are currently in the final Wild Card spot, a half game ahead of the Rangers, a team they will host after the Royals leave town.