A tough stretch of the schedule continues for the Toronto Blue Jays when they face the Baltimore Orioles in a three-game series starting Friday at Rogers Centre.
After flirting with a playoff berth last year, the up-and-coming Orioles have taken another step up this year – sitting second in the American League East and the entire AL.
The Orioles had their first winning season since 2016 last year, finishing 83-79 after five truly terrible campaigns.
This year, the Orioles are 3.5 games back of the AL East-leading Rays and three ahead of the Blue Jays and New York Yankees in the race for second.
Here’s a look at the Blue Jays-Orioles series.
Probable Pitchers
Friday, 7:07 p.m. ET / 4:07 p.m. PT: Toronto LHP Yusei Kikuchi (5-0, 3.89 ERA) vs. Baltimore RHP Kyle Gibson (4-3, 4.67 ERA), Apple TV+
Saturday, 3:07 p.m. ET / 12:07 p.m. PT: Toronto RHP Alek Manoah (1-4, 5.40 ERA) vs. Baltimore RHP Grayson Rodriguez (2-1, 6.57 ERA), Sportsnet, SN NOW
Sunday, 1:37 p.m. ET / 10:37 a.m. PT: Toronto RHP Kevin Gausman (2-3, 3.27 ERA) vs. Baltimore RHP Dean Kremer (5-1, 4.94 ERA), Sportsnet ONE, SN NOW
Latest on the Blue Jays
The Blue Jays (25-19) lost three of four against the visiting Yankees in a heated series at Rogers Centre.
The Yankees completed the series victory with a 4-2 win on Thursday as Aaron Judge hit his fourth home run of the series.
Numerous controversies erupted during the four-game set – with Judge getting it all started when Sportsnet cameras caught him making sideways glances during an at-bat before he hit a home run. The Blue Jays then told MLB they were concerned about Yankees base coaches being outside the coaches boxes, potentially making it easier to steal signs.
While there is plenty of uncertainty in terms of who was right in that argument, what is clear is that the Blue Jays didn’t do a good enough job at the plate. Toronto scored just 12 runs in the series and was 1-for-25 with runners in scoring position over the final two games.
Latest on the Orioles
The Orioles (28-16) settled for a split against the visiting Los Angeles Angels in a four-game series after a 6-5 loss on Thursday.
Shohei Ohtani homered in the first and broke a tie in the eighth with an infield single. Angels outfielder Hunter Renfroe then made a great throw in the ninth to nail Adam Frazier at second as he was trying for a double with one out.
It was a rare setback for the Orioles bullpen with ex-Blue Jay (for a minute or two, anyway) Bryan Baker taking the loss.
Super sophomore Adley Rutschman homered for the Orioles.
Orioles Have Trouble vs. Vladdy
Blue Jays star first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. came in to pinch hit in the seventh inning Thursday after missing Wednesday’s game because of right knee discomfort.
Guerrero has done more damage against the Orioles than any other team in his career.
In 53 games, he is slashing .333/.386/.640 with 22 homers and 53 RBI.
Prospects Aplenty
The Orioles have received big contributions when needed from the triple-A Norfolk Tides, who have the best record in the minors.
Players such as Rodriguez, reliever Yennier Cano and first baseman Kyle Stowers have spent time with Norfolk this year.
The Orioles have the No. 1-rated farm system in Baseball America’s rankings. Eight players are in the top 100.
Previous top-rated prospects Rutschman and Gunnar Henderson are now on the MLB team.
Rutschman, a catcher and the first-overall pick in 2019, is slashing .285/.407/.462 with seven homers and 24 RBI.
What a Relief
The Orioles bullpen has the second-best ERA in MLB, at 2.99.
Closer Felix Bautista is having an outstanding second season.
Cano, who wasn’t available on Thursday after pitching the previous two days, has a 0.00 ERA in 21.2 innings.
Mike Baumann, who entered spring training as a starter, gave up a run for the first time in five appearances on Thursday.
2022 Season Series
The Blue Jays went 10-9 against the Orioles last season after going 14-5 versus Baltimore in 2021.
Perhaps the most memorable moment in the 2022 season series came in a game in Baltimore last September when Baker made a yapping motion with his hand while looking at the Toronto dugout after a strikeout. Both benches cleared, leading to warnings from umpire Jeff Nelson.
Up Next
The Blue Jays start a seven-game road trip on Monday, when they begin a four-game series against the Rays. The series concludes an 11-game stretch against AL East opponents.
