Playoffs game blog: Kansas City can tie an Orioles LCS record tonight

When the Kansas City Royals play at Toronto tonight in Game 3 of the American League Championship Series, they can tie an Orioles record with a victory.

The O's hold the LCS record of 10 straight wins. Kansas City has won nine in a row in the LCS after taking the first two games of the series with Toronto. The Royals win streak dates to 1985.

The Orioles recorded three consecutive 3-0 series sweeps in the ALCS in 1969, 1970 and 1971, when it was a best-of five series. Then the O's won Game 1 of the 1973 ALCS before losing Game 2 to Oakland 6-3.

Kansas City won at home by scores of 5-0 and 6-3 to take a 2-0 edge in this series. In those games, they held Toronto's high-scoring offense to 13 hits, a .197 batting average, no home runs and to 3-for-23 (.130) when batting with runners in scoring position. The Blue Jays easily led the majors in runs scored this year, averaging 5.5 per game in the regular season.

Toronto scored 19 runs in winning the last three games of the American League Division Series against Texas, but has plated just three runs so far versus the Royals staff.

In seven playoff games this year, Kansas City has outscored Toronto 36-29 and out-homered them as well, nine to eight. The Blue Jays have scored three runs or less three times, losing all three.

All but three of the previous 25 teams to take a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven era have won the series.

Kansas City right-hander Johnny Cueto (11-13, 3.44 ERA) pitches against Toronto right-hander Marcus Stroman (4-0, 1.67 ERA) tonight. Both pitched well in Game 5 of their respective ALDS. Cueto gave up two runs in eight innings against Houston, while Stroman gave up two runs in six innings against Texas.