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Its tough enough for the Blue Jays to be playing in the American League East to get even a sniff of the postseason. Then youve got to worry about the other up and coming teams in the two weaker divisions in the "Junior Circuit". If you had to peg one team whom the Blue Jays will have to reckon with in 2014, it would be Kansas City. The Royals finished with an 86-76 record a year ago and missed the playoffs. However that record was 12 games better than the Jays 74-88. One bad month really cost KC a spot in the playoffs a year ago. They went 8-20 in May. Every other month, they were over .500 including 17-10 in September. Kansas City scuffled a bit to score runs in 2013 averaging four per game, but the Blue Jays werent all that much better at 4.40 runs per game. The big difference was in runs allowed by the starting rotation and the bullpen. The Royals starters had an ERA of 3.87 to the Blue Jays 4.81 which was well above the American League average of 4.17. As highly touted as the Blue Jays bullpen was, its ERA of 3.37 was no match for the Royals 2.55. This is in part because of the Royals spacier ballpark, but KC only gave up 155 home runs over the course of the season to the Jays ugly total of 195. If you want to talk team speed, the Blue Jays stole 112 bases, which was better than the league average of 95, but the Royals were even better swiping 153. You could argue the Royals will be even better in 2014. Although they lost Ervin Santana as a free agent, they added durable lefty and former Angel Jason Vargas to plug into the rotation. They also have an elite closer in Greg Holland who saved 47 out of 50 a year ago and a workhorse starter to lead the rotation in James Shields, who through 228.2 innings last season. The Royals also upgraded at second base and right field. They filled a major hole at the keystone by signing former Tiger Omar Infante to a four-year deal worth $30.25 million and traded for speedy right fielder Norichika Aoki, who will take over as their leadoff hitter. KCs secret weapon might just be 22-year-old right-hander Yordano Ventura. Though only 511", he throws consistantly in high 90s and has been known to hit between 100 and 102mph on occasion. Hes already earned a spot in skipper Ned Yosts rotation and is being touted as one of the top candidates for rookie of the year. Since Pittsburgh made the playoffs last season, Kansas City and the Blue Jays are the two teams that have gone the longest between post-season appearances. The Royals havent made it since they won the World Series over St. Louis in 1985. The Blue Jays of course, havent made it since winning their second straight World Series in 1993. The Blue Jays play the Royals seven times this season, from April 29 through May 1 in Missouri and then back in Toronto from May 29 through June 1. Those are seven games of their first 58 that could well prove whether the Jays are good enough to contend for a Wild Card spot, or which team of these two will wind up with the longest postseason drought when the 2014 season is all said and done. Around Spring Training Injuries turned right-hander Josh Johnson into arguably the biggest disappointment of the Blue Jays season a year ago. Unfortunately his luck hasnt changed much in San Diego. The 30-year-old right-hander is going to be out 4-to-5 weeks with a strained right forearm. Tough blow for the Texas Rangers. Their young second baseman Jurickson Profar is out 10 to 12 weeks with a slight muscle tear in his right shoulder. Profar was expected to shoulder the load at second since Ian Kinsler was dealt to Detroit as part of the Prince Fielder deal. Profar hasnt proven himself as a big league hitter yet, but his glove and arm are world class. Yes, its only spring training, but the Yankees have got to be a bit concerned that Derek Jeter is only hitting .114 and Mark Teixiera only .120. Great to see David Ortiz is probably going to end his career in Boston. After all hes been pretty much the face of the franchise for the last 10 years. Ortiz agreed over the weekend to a one-year, $15 million extension for 2015. He also has a vesting option for 2016 and there is a club option for 2017 by which time Ortiz will be 42 years old. Erik Bedard is looking for new gig. The 35-year-old southpaw and native of Navan, Ontario opted out of his deal with Tampa Bay after the fifth starters job went to 24-year-old Jake Odorizzi. Bedard just didnt want to go back to Triple-A at this stage of his career. Experienced Help We mentioned a couple of articles ago that a former Blue Jays third baseman, Roy Howell, was managing in Triple-A this season at Tacoma. Now another Ex-Jay, Tom Lawless, has taken over as interim manager at Oklahoma City in the Pacific Coast League. Lawless will be filling in for Ton DeFrancesco who was diagnosed with cancer while working in the parent Astros camp this spring. DeFrancescos cancer was caught early enough that he is expected to make a full recovery. Stitched NFL Jerseys . This was one of them. Omar Infante homered and tied a career high with six RBIs to carry the Kansas City Royals over the Baltimore Orioles 9-3 on Sunday. Wholesale Jerseys Free Shipping . -- The Vancouver Whitecaps remained unbeaten with a scoreless draw at the New England Revolution on Saturday. http://www.cheapjerseysdiscount.com/. 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With the new deal TSN retains rights to ESPNs SUNDAY NIGHT BASEBALL and, for the first time, acquires rights to ESPNs MONDAY NIGHT BASEBALL and WEDNESDAY NIGHT BASEBALL.BOSTON -- A little infusion of youth and a solid start by Jon Lester kept the Boston Red Sox rolling along. Lester pitched seven shutout innings and Brock Holt drove in two runs with one of his major league record-tying four doubles to lift the Red Sox to their seventh straight win, completing a three-game sweep over the reeling Tampa Bay Rays with a 4-0 victory on Sunday. Bostons streak follows a 10-game skid, its longest in 20 years. The Red Sox said that matches a major league record for consecutive wins after a double-digit losing stretch, according to research by the Elias Sports Bureau. The 1989 Detroit Tigers did it after losing 12 in a row, and the 1942 Pittsburgh Pirates also did it after dropping 10 straight. Rookies Garin Cecchini and Adam Hassen collected their first major league hits to go along with fellow rookie Holts big day. "Its great. It kind of makes you reminisce of all the good firsts and just how excited theyll be," Lester said. "Thats the cool part about this game, to see these guys come up and doing this stuff to help out the team." Holt tied a major league record for doubles in a single game one day after he hit his first major league homer in Saturday nights win. Cecchini added an RBI double for his first major league hit. "Were tapping into organization depth and guys are ready to contribute," Boston manager John Farrell said. "It is a special day. I dont know the last time two Red Sox players have gotten their first major league hits in a game." Evan Longoria had a pair of singles for the Rays, who dropped their season-high sixth straight. Tampa Bay owns the ALs worst record at 23-34. Holt has sparked Bostons offence by moving into the leadoff spot, which had been a weakness since Jacoby Ellsbury left via free agency during the off-season, signing with the New York Yankees. "Its a fun day," Holt said. "Anytime you can go out and do something like that, I had a little bit of luck on my side, too." Lester (6-6) allowed four hits, while striking out 12 and walking one. It was the left-handers 19th career double-digit strikeout game, coming after he struck out a career-best 15 against the Oakland Athletics on May 3. The Rays looked punchless for the third straight game. "Its been kind of ongoing for a little while now," Tampa Bay second baseman Logan Forsythe said. "A team doesnt stay stagnant for that long. Were going to get hot, were going to get going soon. Itts just a matter of time.dddddddddddd. Were putting the work in. Now we just wait and see when it happens, and when it happens, just roll with it." Tampa Bay was held to three runs in the series and has scored two or fewer runs in nine of its past 14 games, losing eight of those. "I really believe that runs there," Rays manager Joe Maddon said. "Its really pretty much rooted in one component of our game -- were just not a consistent offensive team right now." Edward Mujica and Koji Uehara each pitched an inning to complete the five-hit shutout. For the second straight day, the clubs were cordial to each other on the field after three Boston managers and a pitcher were ejected in Fridays game. Rays starter David Price hit David Ortiz in the first inning and Mike Carp later in the fourth. The Carp one triggered the benches to clear, the second time in less than a week the two teams had a scrum. Last Sunday in Tropicana Field, players in Bostons dugout started yelling at Yunel Escobar when he stole third with the Rays up by five runs late. The Red Sox broke ahead 3-0 in the fourth against Erik Bedard (2-4). Hassan singled to centre for his first hit after Jonny Gomes singled leading off. Jackie Bradley Jr. then walked before Jonathan Herrera had a sacrifice fly, making it 1-0. Holt followed with his two-run double. Bedard lasted 4 2-3 innings, allowing three runs and five hits, walking four and striking out four. NOTES: Victor Martinez was the most recent player to get four doubles in a game, coming on June 1, 2010, while with the Red Sox. ... The last pair of Red Sox rookies to get their first major league hits in a game were Steve Dillard and Andy Merchant on Sept. 28, 1975. ... Boston 2B Dustin Pedroia was back in the lineup after missing Saturday with a sore right hand, but his day was cut short when he was ejected at the end of the third by home plate umpire D.J. Reyburn. ... Tampa Bay placed OF Wil Myers on the 15-day DL before the game and recalled 1B/OF Jerry Sands from Triple-A Durham. Sands went 0 for 4 with three strikeouts. ... Rays SS Escobar was out of the starting lineup for the second straight game with a tight left quad, but he pinch hit in the seventh and flied to centre. ... It was Lesters 233rd career start, moving him into fifth on the clubs all-time list. ... Before the game, the Red Sox called up 3B Cecchini from Triple-A Pawtucket and optioned RHP Alex Wilson. ' ' '