SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- The Royals have six Cactus League games, one scheduled day off, an exhibition game and two workout days before Opening Day on March 28 against the White Sox at home.

There’s another scheduled day off March 29.

It’s plenty of time for Opening Day starter Brad Keller to be ready for the first game of the season and for his club to line up the starting rotation behind him.

On Sunday, Keller showed he’s right on track, giving up one run on five hits in 4 2/3 innings against the Giants at Scottsdale Stadium. He struck out three and did not walk a batter in the Royals' 7-2 loss.

“I thought he threw the ball well,” Royals manager Ned Yost said. “I thought he had a really good breaking ball and good action and sink in his fastball. He’s throwing the ball.”

The right-handed pitcher cruised for most of the outing. He gave up a two-out single to Giants catcher Buster Posey in the first inning and another single by third baseman Pablo Sandoval to lead off the second but he kept the Giants’ offense in check.

Keller gave up a pair of hits in the fourth and a double to Cameron Maybin in the fifth. Maybin eventually scored on a ground ball to tie the game at 1 and Keller was immediately replaced by Tim Hill.

Keller said he focused on his slider Sunday and hopes it can be a strikeout pitch for him during the regular season. He’ll start again Saturday against the Brewers, which will line him up to pitch Opening Day on five days of rest.

Adam traded to Toronto

The Royals traded right-handed reliever Jason Adam to the Blue Jays for cash considerations Saturday night.

Adam, who is from Overland Park, Kansas, had a 6.12 ERA in 32 1/3 innings out of the bullpen last season. He struck out 37 and walked 16 in 31 games.

Originally selected by the Royals in the fifth round in the 2010 Draft, Adam eventually returned to the organization in 2017 after short stints in the San Diego and Minnesota systems.

With the trade, the Royals have 48 active players in camp.

Merrifield on top

Royals manager Ned Yost considered flip-flopping leadoff hitter Whit Merrifield and second-place hitter Adalberto Mondesi at the top of the order to start the season, but has decided against it for now.

The club could still make adjustments at the top of the order as the season progress.

“It just kind of feels a little bit better,” Yost said. “As a staff, we discuss all of these things. It’s not like I sit there behind my desk and go, ‘I’m going to put this guy here and this guy here.’ There’s a lot of discussion that goes between me and my coaches before we make any of those moves permanent.”

Merrifield hit in the leadoff spot 112 times last season and in the second spot 32 times. Mondesi hit second 25 times.

“[Mondesi] will probably be a [No.] 3 hitter when it’s all said and done,” Yost said. “We feel for our current group that Monde fits best in the No. 2 spot. … Right now, I’m trying to figure out the best spot that wins today.”

Worth noting

Catcher Martin Maldonado’s right calf is still feeling stiff after getting hit by a pitch in Minor League game Saturday, Yost said. He remains on track to catch Tuesday. Maldonado was tentatively scheduled to DH in a Minor League game Sunday, but the club decided it did not want to take any chances with his sore calf on the base paths.

Up next

The Royals are off Monday. They will resume play with Jakob Junis, Kyle Zimmer, Jake Diekman, Brad Boxberger, Wily Peralta, and Scott Barlow on the mound Tuesday against the Cubs at Surprise Stadium.