Orioles at Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays seemingly can't buy a break at home, as they failed to take advantage of a sterling pitching performance in their last outing to fall to 1-10 in their last 11 contests at the Rogers Centre. The Blue Jays (26-35) bid to change the narrative on Thursday as they open a four-game series against the Baltimore Orioles (19-41).
Sam Gaviglio scattered three hits over seven scoreless innings on Wednesday for Toronto, but his offense failed to get it in gear as it struck out 15 times in a 3-0 setback in 13 frames against the New York Yankees. Kendrys Morales had two of his team's four hits for the Blue Jays, who have lost seven of their last eight and 17 of 22. Baltimore knows a thing or two about losing skids as it owns the majors' worst mark, but it did record consecutive victories for just the fourth time this season after capping a two-game interleague sweep of the New York Mets with Wednesday afternoon's 1-0 triumph. Manny Machado saw his eight-game hitting streak halted in the matinee, but his sacrifice fly in the eighth inning proved to be the difference.
TV: 7:07 p.m. ET, MASN (Baltimore), Sportsnet (Toronto)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Orioles RH David Hess (2-2, 3.47 ERA)) vs. Blue Jays LH Jaime Garcia (2-4, 6.08)
Hess sustained a hard-luck defeat on May 30 after Bryce Harper's solo homer in the third inning accounted for his lone damage among four hits in six innings of a 2-0 setback versus Washington. The 24-year-old rookie, who took over for Chris Tillman in the rotation, has helped a beleaguered bullpen by pitching six or more innings in three of his first four starts. Hess threw a first-pitch strike to 17 of the 23 batters he faced to get ahead in the count against the Nationals.
Garcia was blitzed for four runs on seven hits in a season-low 1 2/3 innings during Friday's 5-2 setback versus Detroit. The 31-year-old has allowed the opposition to bat a robust .291 against him this season. Danny Valencia is 2-for-3 in a small sample size versus Garcia, but the left-hander won his lone start against Baltimore despite being touched for five runs on 10 hits -- including two homers - in 5 1/3 innings.
WALK-OFFS
1. Toronto LF Curtis Granderson is 0-for-17 with nine strikeouts in his last five contests.
2. Baltimore CF Adam Jones is 17-for-42 with six runs scored in his last 10 games.
3. Blue Jays top prospect Vladimir Guerrero Jr. exited Wednesday's Double-A game against Akron with an apparent leg injury after sliding into second base in the fourth inning.