The division-leading Baltimore Orioles are on a roll as they come into Toronto for a four-game set. They’ve got seven wins in their last 10, and just completed a sweep of the defending World Series champion Kansas City Royals.
Despite the series loss to Detroit, Toronto has won six of its last 10—and 10 of 14. Also working in the Blue Jays favour, they won’t likely see Baltimore’s ace Chris Tillman (8-1 with a 3.01 ERA) if the rotation plays out as projected.
This is just the second series between these teams so far this season. The Orioles took two games of a tightly contested three-game stand in Baltimore back in April.
Projected starters
Thursday, June 9 – 7:07 ET
Marcus Stroman vs. Tyler Wilson
Friday, June 10 – 7:07 ET
Marco Estrada vs. Kevin Gausman
Saturday, June 11 – 1:07 ET
J.A. Happ vs. Mike Wright
Sunday, June 12 – 1:07 ET
Aaron Sanchez vs. Ubaldo Jimenez
Tightie righties
The right-handers who are Baltimore’s probable starters in the first two games at Rogers Centre are trying to get off the shneid. Projected for the opener, Tyler Wilson is 0-3 with a 5.93 ERA in his three most recent starts. In his last, he got rocked for four runs in five innings against the Yankees.
On Friday the Orioles are looking at Kevin Gausman is 0-2 in his last three starts but he pitched well in a no-decision against the Yankees on Sunday, giving up one run on seven hits and two walks with five strikeouts in six innings. Gausman is 0-3 on the season but put some of that down to bad luck—his ERA in nine outings is a very respectable 3.52.
Weekend warriors
Mike Wright and Ubaldo Jimenez will be on the mound in the weekend games. The veteran Jimenez is a bit of a Jays killer—Jose Bautista is .095 over the last five seasons against him. It will also be interesting to see how Josh Donaldson fares in the matchup. He’s hot off nearly hitting for the cycle Friday, but likewise has struggled against Jimenez in the past.
Home semi-sweet home
Jays’ fans have to figure that at some point Bautista will break out at home—he’s hitting just .183 at the Rogers Centre with more strikeouts (17) than hits (14).
Tulo no-go
While Troy Tulowitzki is close to ready and won’t need a rehab assignment before returning to the field, he isn’t eligible to return for this series. However, he is expected to return to the lineup Monday versus Philadelphia.
Stroman poised for a bounce-back?
Prior to the season many thought Thursday’s Jays starter Marcus Stroman was set to be the team’s ace, though it hasn’t looked that way so far. He’s got a 5-2 record, but three of his last four starts have been rocky (at least six earned runs given up) and his ERA is just under 5.00.
Thursday could provide an opportunity for a bounceback—Stroman beat Baltimore back in April in his third start of the year, giving up three earned runs across seven innings.
Trumbo on the rumble
The Orioles offence leans on Mark Trumbo, who has been en fuego. In the last seven games, the O’s right fielder has hit five homers (to give him an MLB-leading 20 for the season) with seven RBI (for 48 for the year to date) and an OPS of 1.393. Trumbo’s run has overshadowed a solid season at the plate for third baseman Manny Machado (15 HR, 37 RBI with a .303 BA, .375 OBP, .968 OPS).
Crashing Davis
First baseman Chris Davis is mired in a serious slump—a dozen homers is respectable enough, but an average of .214 this season (and .150 in his last six games).
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