After playing better outside the division, the Toronto Blue Jays return to American League East action this week with a three-game series against the Baltimore Orioles.
Last month, Toronto had a rough 2-9 stretch against the powerful AL East, including three consecutive losses against these same Orioles at Rogers Centre.
The series in Baltimore starts a challenging nine-game road swing against three teams in playoff positions.
Here’s a look at the Blue Jays and Orioles.
Probable Pitchers
Tuesday, 7:05 p.m. ET / 4:05 p.m. PT: Toronto RHP Chris Bassitt (7-4, 3.29 ERA) vs. Baltimore RHP Dean Kremer (6-3, 4.89 ERA), Sportsnet ONE
Wednesday, 7:05 p.m. ET / 4:05 p.m. PT: Toronto RHP Jose Berrios (6-4, 3.61 ERA) vs. Baltimore RHP Kyle Bradish (2-2, 4.25 ERA), Sportsnet
Thursday, 1:05 p.m. ET / 10:05 a.m. PT: Toronto LHP Yusei Kikuchi (6-2, 4.34 ERA) vs. Baltimore RHP Tyler Wells (5-2, 3.24 ERA), Sportsnet
All games are on SN NOW and SN ONE.
Latest on the Blue Jays
The Blue Jays (37-30) avoided a three-game sweep at the hands of the Minnesota Twins as Cavan Biggio hit a three-run home run in the eighth inning to give Toronto a come-from-behind 7-6 victory on Sunday at Rogers Centre.
The win gave Toronto a bit of a boost after seeing its four-series win streak come to an end.
The Blue Jays’ offence was stuck in neutral for the first two losses against the Twins — totalling just five runs. After not being able to cash in a run with men on second and third and no out in the ninth on Friday, the Blue Jays blew a 3-0 lead in a bullpen game on Saturday that was going wonderfully until Adam Cimber was lit up in the eighth inning.
Blue Jays ace Kevin Gausman had a rare rough outing on Sunday before the Blue Jays battled back for the victory.
The Blue Jays are fourth in the AL East, 10 games behind the MLB-leading Tampa Bay Rays. Toronto is a half-game out of the final wild-card spot — held by the Houston Astros.
Latest on the Orioles
The Orioles (41-24) extended their winning streak to four games with a three-game sweep of the Kansas City Royals over the weekend.
Young Orioles infielder Gunnar Henderson, 21, homered in each of the last two games of the series — including a monster shot on Sunday — and was named AL player of the week on Monday.
After a slow start to the season, the former No. 1 prospect in MLB is batting .406 (13 for 32) in the past nine games and has raised his batting average from .199 to .236.
Baltimore is 17 games over .500 for the first time since July 2016 — the last year the Orioles made the playoffs when they lost to the Blue Jays in a memorable wild-card game.
The Orioles are second in the AL East, five games back of Tampa. Baltimore holds the top wild-card spot.
Injury Report
Blue Jays catcher Danny Jansen (left groin) went 4-for-8 with a homer in two rehab games with triple-A Buffalo over the weekend and is expected to return to the big club on Tuesday.
Blue Jays designated hitter Brandon Belt experienced hamstring tightness running the bases on Saturday and didn’t play Sunday. An MRI showed no structural damage, so there is hope he won’t need time on the IL.
Toronto outfielder Kevin Kiermaier (wrist) appeared twice as a pinch runner versus the Twins, but didn’t take an at-bat after getting hurt on Thursday. The Blue Jays are hopeful he’ll be fully available for the Baltimore series.
Orioles first baseman Ryan Mountcastle has missed four of the past five games with an illness. He leads the team with 11 homers and 39 RBI.
Outfielder Cedric Mullins (groin) is on the IL and there is no exact timetable for his return.
Season Series
The Orioles took all three in Toronto in the first series between the clubs last month.
The last two wins came in extra innings after Blue Jays bullpen meltdowns. Ryan O’Hearn had a three-run homer off Jordan Romano in the eighth to tie it in the first of those games before Baltimore prevailed in extras, while Yimi Garcia allowed five runs in the 11th in the series finale.
Watch Out For …
Mountcastle, if he returns from illness.
The Orioles slugger has traditionally given the Blue Jays all sorts of problems. In 45 career games against the Blue Jays, he is slashing .306/.368/.613 with 15 homers and 36 RBI.
Up Next
The Blue Jays are in Texas for a three-game weekend series against the AL West-leading Rangers. Texas leads the majors in runs scored.
