With a big deal in the books, the trade deadline looming and the American League’s top team in town, it’s an exciting time for Toronto Blue Jays fans.
Now, the team must do its part to keep the vibes strong by turning the tables against AL East competition.
The Blue Jays, who acquired hard-throwing reliever Jordan Hicks from the St. Louis Cardinals on Sunday, entertain the AL East-leading Baltimore Orioles in a big four-game series starting Monday at Rogers Centre. Just over an hour before Hyun Jin Ryu throws his first pitch of the season to open Tuesday’s game, the trade deadline will hit at 6 p.m. ET / 3 p.m. PT.
With the Tampa Bay Rays faltering, the Blue Jays are now within 5.5 games of the division lead — held by the youthful Orioles.
Trouble is, the Blue Jays are a woeful 7-20 against AL East teams this year. The only teams with worse intradivisional records are the two worst squads in their respective leagues — the Oakland A’s and Colorado Rockies.
Here is a look at the Blue Jays-Orioles series.
Probable Pitchers
Monday, 7:07 p.m. ET / 4:07 p.m. PT: Toronto RHP Chris Bassitt (10-5, 3.91 ERA) vs. Baltimore RHP Kyle Gibson (9-6, 4.68 ERA)
Tuesday, 7:07 p.m. ET / 4:07 p.m. PT: Toronto LHP Hyun Jin Ryu (season debut) vs. Baltimore RHP Kyle Bradish (6-6, 3.29 ERA)
Wednesday, 7:07 p.m. ET / 4:07 p.m. PT: Toronto LHP Yusei Kikuchi (8-3, 3.79 ERA) vs. Baltimore RHP Grayson Rodriguez (2-2, 6.21 ERA)
Thursday, 3:07 p.m. ET / 12:07 p.m. PT: Toronto RHP Kevin Gausman (8-5, 3.10 ERA) vs. Baltimore RHP TBD
All games on Sportsnet or Sportsnet NOW.
Latest on the Blue Jays
The Blue Jays (59-47) missed a chance at a three-game sweep of the Los Angeles Angels with a 3-2 loss in 10 innings on Sunday at Rogers Centre.
Hunter Renfroe hit a two-run homer off Yimi Garcia in the 10th inning for the decisive blow. It snapped an 0-for-27 drought with runners in scoring position for the Angels.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. opened the bottom of the inning with an RBI single, but the Blue Jays couldn’t cash in the tying run. Toronto stranded 12 baserunners on the day, including two in the final frame.
Toronto is tied for second in the wild-card race with the Houston Astros, 2.5 games up on the Boston Red Sox.
The Blue Jays went 4-2 in the past week against the Los Angeles Angels and Dodgers.
Latest on the Orioles
The Orioles (64-41) put on a show on Sunday Night Baseball, scoring seven runs in the first inning en route to a convincing 9-3 win over the visiting New York Yankees.
Adam Frazier’s three-run homer was the big blast in the first and the Orioles rolled home from there to secure a 2-1 series victory.
Young catcher Adley Rutschman, battling leadoff for the second game in a row after never having done so in the majors before that, delivered two singles in the first inning.
The Orioles are now 1.5 games up on the Rays for first in the East.
Trade Talk
With closer Jordan Romano placed on the 15-day IL on Saturday with lower-back inflammation, the Blue Jays gave their bullpen a big boost on Sunday with the acquisition of Hicks. Toronto sent two double-A pitching prospects to St. Louis to acquire the pending free agent.
Arguably the top reliever on the market, Hicks gives the Blue Jays another high-leverage arm.
It’s the second trade the Blue Jays have made this month for a Cardinals reliever. Left-hander Genesis Cabrera has looked good early for Toronto, giving up just one hit in four appearances (five innings) while striking out five and not allowing a walk.
Now, the question becomes whether the Blue Jays can add another bat to bolster a lineup that lacks punch at times. It won’t be easy as several potential sellers have decided to stand pat, including the Chicago Cubs, who previously had thought of dealing outfielder Cody Bellinger.
The Orioles’ main concern looks to be starting pitching.
Dean Kremer and Bradish both are nearing career highs in innings pitched, while Tyler Wells and Rodriguez already have hit that high.
The struggling Wells was demoted to double-A Bowie on Sunday, leaving the Orioles with a TBD for Thursday’s series finale.
Orioles general manager Mike Elias said last week, per MLB.com that pitching is his focus heading into Tuesday’s deadline.
“It’s no secret that that would be the areas of the team where we could a) either use more depth or b) look for upgrades,” Elias said.
Leadoff Lift
The Blue Jays put Whit Merrifield in the leadoff spot in place of the struggling George Springer on Friday and the results were good against the Angels.
The all-star second baseman was 6-for-14 in the series with one home run.
Merrifield leads the American League in July with a .365 batting average the past 30 days.
Spotlight on first basemen
Orioles first baseman Ryan Mountcastle missed Baltimore’s last series against the Blue Jays because of vertigo.
Mountcastle has since returned — and often saves his best for Toronto.
The first baseman has hit 15 homers and 36 RBIs in 45 games against the Blue Jays, the most in each stat off any opponent. He is slashing .306/.368/.613 for his career against Toronto.
Similarly, Guerrero Jr. has been a major pain for the Orioles.
Guerrero Jr. has personal-high totals of 22 homers and 54 RBIs in 69 games against the Orioles. He has hit .320/.373/.601 versus Baltimore.
Injury Report
The Orioles are relying on outfield depth with Cedric Mullins (groin) and Aaron Hicks (hamstring) both out.
Season Series
The Blue Jays are 1-5 against the Orioles this season, getting swept in Toronto in May (two losses came in extra innings) and losing two of three in Baltimore in June.
The lone win was by Jose Berríos (7.2 innings, no runs, three hits) — and unfortunately for the Blue Jays, he doesn’t pitch this series.
Up Next
The Blue Jays travel to Boston to face the Red Sox in a weekend series with plenty of playoff implications.
