(Sports Network) - The Royals drafted Zack Greinke in 2002 to be their ace of the future. That time may be now, as the right-hander tries to win his third straight decision tonight for Kansas City in the opener of a four-game series with the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre.

The sixth overall pick of the 2002 draft has been slow to develop and was forced to deal with a social anxiety disorder, but has emerged as the Royals' best pitcher thus far in 2008. Greinke has posted a 5-1 record and 2.18 earned run average after going 7-7 with a 3.69 ERA in 52 games (14 starts) last year.

The righty picked up a win in Florida on Sunday, holding the Marlins to three runs on nine hits over six innings while striking out five. Greinke gave up more than two earned runs for just the second time this year, though it mattered little as Kansas City plated nine runs in the win.

The 24-year-old has faced Toronto once this year, getting a no-decision on April 25 at home despite seven innings of one-run ball. That lone blemish was a game-tying homer by Lyle Overbay in the seventh inning, and the Blue Jays scored more runs in the eighth before a six-run bottom half of the frame led KC to a win. Greinke is 1-2 with a 4.05 ERA in six games (4 starts) all-time versus the Blue Jays.

Greinke has one of Kansas City's two wins so far on its 11-game road trip, a journey that has seen the club lose five of seven. The Royals found their offense in Thursday's finale of a four-game set with Boston, but couldn't hold off a sweep at the hands of the Red Sox thanks to an 11-8 loss.

Miguel Olivo went 3-for-5 with a homer, a pair of doubles and a career-high tying five runs batted in for the Royals. Jose Guillen went 4-for-5 with a double, a homer and three RBI.

Brian Bannister (4-6) was rocked for seven runs on 12 hits in 5 1/3 frames, while Jimmy Gobble was tagged for four runs on two hits in two-thirds of an inning of relief.

Overbay was key in Toronto's 4-3 win on Thursday against the Angels, going 2- for-3 and belting the go-ahead homer in the sixth frame as the Blue Jays salvaged the finale of the three-game series.

Brad Wilkerson was 1-for-4 with a run batted in for the Blue Jays, who have won three of their last five games. Joe Inglett and Rod Barajas each added an RBI in the win.

A.J. Burnett (5-4) was rewarded with the win after he gave up three runs on six hits in six frames on the hill, while fanning six batters and walking two. B.J. Ryan earned his 10th save with a perfect ninth.

Roy Halladay starts for the Blue Jays tonight off a rare bullpen appearance. Against the Phillies on Sunday, Halladay was forced into action after the game's second rain delay for his first relief outing since July 2, 2001, and held the Phillies to just a hit over 2 1/3 shutout frames in the Blue Jays' 6-5 victory.

In his career, 231 of Halladay's 257 games have been starts.

Halladay started four days prior to his relief appearance, picking up the win against Minnesota after yielding four runs on nine hits with eight strikeouts over 6 2/3 innings. On the season, the right-hander is 4-5 with a 3.38 ERA.

The recently-turned 31-year-old hasn't faced Kansas City yet this year, but is 7-3 with a 3.11 ERA in 12 starts against the Royals.

The Royals won two of three versus Toronto at home in late April and have taken four of their last six against the Jays.