Bautista: Royals aren't giving me anything to hit

The Kansas City Royals haven't given Jose Bautista the opportunity to do any damage with his bat and the Toronto Blue Jays slugger believes it's intentional.

"They're not really challenging me, except for a few at-bats and a few counts here and there," Bautista told reporters. "They're not really coming after me at all. That's what I have to do - force them into throwing the ball over the plate."

Bautista has four hits in 22 plate appearances in the series, but has drawn seven walks - one shy of the record for unintentional walks in an LCS - which has allowed him to reach base half the time he has stepped to the plate.

Although the 35-year-old has three RBIs in the series, he wants to contribute more to the cause.

"What can I do?" Bautista asked. "I want to make something happen, especially with men on base, but I have to be patient enough to swing at strikes. It's a tough act, balancing those things out."

Royals manager Ned Yost wouldn't admit to utilizing the strategy, although he said "Joey Bats," among others, are dangerous pieces of the Blue Jays' lineup and that his team has pitched carefully.

"You're kind of playing with fire a little bit pitching around any of those guys with those guys behind them," Yost said. "You have to have that mindset that, 'I'm not giving in. I'm going to make my pitch. And if I don't make my pitch, I'm going to try to eliminate as much damage as you can, and end up giving a walk instead of a homer.' But if you continue to execute pitches, you're going to be in good shape."