Orioles at Blue Jays
Instead of relying on late offense to beat the Baltimore Orioles again, the Toronto Blue Jays turned to a rotation that has been more than holding its own of late. The Blue Jays eye their first three-game winning streak since April 29-May 1 on Saturday, when they try to secure a series victory against the visiting Orioles with a win in the third contest of their four-game set.
Despite winning three of the first four meetings with their American League East rival this season, the Blue Jays had scored 10 of their 18 runs against Baltimore after the eighth frame in those contests, including four in Thursday's 10-inning 5-4 victory. Russell Martin, Randal Grichuk and Kevin Pillar supplied plenty of offense before the final inning in Friday's 5-1 victory, as each player hit a solo home run to complement Toronto's fifth straight quality start - its longest such run since it posted seven in a row in September 2016. Backup outfielder Craig Gentry went 3-for-3 in what was another listless offensive performance by Baltimore, which owns the worst overall record in the major leagues (19-43) as well as the worst road mark (9-25). The Orioles have lost nine of 11 overall, scoring two runs or fewer in eight of those contests.
TV: 1:07 p.m. ET, MASN2 (Baltimore), Sportsnet, TVA (Toronto)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Orioles RH Kevin Gausman (3-5, 4.63 ERA) vs. Blue Jays RH Aaron Sanchez (3-5, 4.48)
Gausman struck out nine but otherwise was hit hard Saturday in a loss to the New York Yankees, giving up six runs and nine hits - including a pair of homers - in 5 1/3 innings. The outing marked the third time in four tries the LSU product has surrendered at least five earned runs, dropping him to 0-3 with an 8.53 ERA over that span. Curtis Granderson has homered twice in seven at-bats versus Gausman, who defeated Toronto on April 11 after allowing three runs over six frames.
Sanchez stopped a three-game losing streak with a strong effort in Sunday's win at Detroit, yielding only two hits - including a solo homer - while walking three and striking out seven in six innings. The 25-year-old is fourth in the majors with 38 walks, issuing at least three in eight of his 12 turns this season. Sanchez overcame the first of his two five-walk starts this season in a win at Baltimore on April 10, permitting one run over a season-high eight frames.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Blue Jays' rotation has not allowed more than one earned run in any of the last five games and is holding opponents to a .155 average over that span.
2. Baltimore LHP Zach Britton (Achilles') is expected to come off the disabled list Monday to rejoin the team for its series opener against Boston.
3. Toronto ended its 33-day stretch without consecutive wins on Friday, halting the third-longest such streak in team history.