(From The Sports Network - All Times Eastern)

PROJECTED PITCHING MATCHUPS

July 22, 8:10 p.m. - Pete Walker (3-2) vs. Runelvys Hernandez (7-9)

July 23, 7:10 p.m. - Dave Bush (0-5) vs. D.J. Carrasco (4-4)

July 24, 2:10 p.m. - Ted Lilly (8-9) vs. Zack Greinke (3-11)

2005 SEASON SERIES: Toronto leads, 3-0.

TORONTO (48-47)

Pete Walker makes his fourth start of the season for the Blue Jays in the opener of this series on Friday. Walker was not involved in the decision in his last start against Tampa Bay, despite yielding only one run on six hits in six innings.

The righthander is 0-1 with a 3.97 ERA in July, but four of his five outings have been out of the bullpen. He is 2-0 in his career against Kansas City.

Dave Bush. Toronto's second-year starter, returns after an extended demotion to Triple-A Syracuse. Toronto went 2-8 in the righthander's first 10 starts, but he threw at least seven innings four different times.

Ted Lilly struggled in his last start, but Toronto's offense helped the lefthander earn his third straight win. Lilly is 3-1 with a 2.84 ERA during July.

The Blue Jays are coming off a three-game sweep of Seattle. On Thursday, Shea Hillenbrand belted a three-run homer and Josh Towers was solid over seven innings, leading Toronto past the Mariners, 6-3, at the Rogers Centre.

Towers (7-8) allowed three runs on five hits, mixing in one strikeout with no walks. Towers earned his first win since late June and improved to 3-1 lifetime against Seattle. Miguel Batista notched his 17th save of the season.

Toronto leads the season series, 3-0, sweeping a three-game set from Kansas City at home from May 9-11.

KANSAS CITY (34-61)

Runelvys Hernandez takes aim at his third straight victory, as the pitches for Kansas City on Friday. Hernandez, who is appealing a 10-game suspension for his role in a bench- clearing brawl last weekend, defeated Seattle on July 6, as he yielded only one unearned run on nine hits in six innings.

Following the All-Star break, the righthander took the mound versus Detroit on July 17 and allowed just two hits over five scoreless innings to earn the win. However, he sparked the melee by nailing Carlos Guillen in the head -- his third hit batter of the game. The two exchanged words and Guillen charged the mound, prompting both benches and bullpens to empty.

Hernandez, who was also fined an undisclosed amount, said he wasn't aiming at Guillen's head and felt the penalty was severe. He can continue to pitch until his appeal is heard.

Hernandez is 0-2 lifetime against the Blue Jays, including a setback versus Toronto on May 9.

Following a week-long layoff because of the All-Star break and shoulder tightness, D.J. Carrasco had his shortest outing last Monday at Cleveland, lasting just 2 1/3 innings.

Zack Greinke hurled seven shutout innings against the Indians on Tuesday night, his best outing of the season.

The Royals split a four-game series with Cleveland. In the series finale on Thursday, Jhonny Peralta and Victor Martinez hit three-run homers and Casey Blake added a solo shot, leading the Indians to a 10-1 victory over Kansas City at Jacobs Field.

Terrence Long had three hits for the Royals, who had won three of their previous four. Alberto Castillo drove in the lone Kansas City run.