Blue Jays, Royals open 4-game series

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Brad Keller is not exactly jumping from kindergarten to college, but he is making the leap from the Double-A Jackson Generals and the Southern League to the American League's Kansas City Royals.

Keller went 10-9 with a 4.68 ERA in 26 starts last season with Jackson.

The Royals picked Keller, who turned 23 on July 27, in the Rule Five draft last December from the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Keller has turned out to be a diamond in the rough for the struggling Royals, who view him as a solid rotation piece for the future when the club could be a contender again.

He'll start on Monday against the Toronto Blue Jays in the opener of a four-game series at Kaufman Stadium. This will be…