Orioles at Blue Jays
The Baltimore Orioles begin life without All-Star shortstop Manny Machado when they visit the Toronto Blue Jays for the beginning of a three-game series Friday night. Machado was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday in exchange for five minor leaguers, ending an era that saw that the 26-year-old amass 162 homers and nearly 1,000 hits in six-plus seasons with the Orioles.
"Obviously, it's a bittersweet day for our organization," Dan Duquette, the Orioles' executive vice president of baseball operations, told reporters Wednesday. "We watched Manny grow up in our franchise the past eight years. We all know what an exceptional talent he is, from the great plays that he made to his elite hitting." Machado was one of the only bright spots for last-place Baltimore, which won its final two games before the All-Star break on the heels of a dismal 9-35 stretch. More Orioles will be shipped in the coming weeks and the same could be said for the Blue Jays, who exit the break nine games below .500 after losing three of four at Boston before the intermission. Dylan Bundy leads Baltimore with six victories and seeks No. 7 as he toes the rubber Friday night against fellow right-hander Sam Gaviglio.
TV: 7:07 p.m. ET, MASN (Baltimore), Sportsnet (Toronto)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Orioles RH Dylan Bundy (6-9, 4.35 ERA) vs. Blue Jays RH Sam Gaviglio (2-3, 4.58)
Bundy was dominant at times in May and June but opened this month by going 0-2 with a 12.27 ERA in his first two starts. He has five strikeouts and five walks in that span, issuing a season high-tying four free passes in a loss to the New York Yankees on July 11. The former first-round pick fanned 10 Blue Jays over seven strong frames earlier in the year and boasts a 1.17 ERA in eight career matchups (four starts).
Gaviglio worked on two days' rest his last time out and managed to get through 3 1/3 innings of a no-decision at Fenway Park in Boston. Since seven strong innings against the Detroit Tigers on June 30, the 28-year-old has seen just 9 1/3 frames of action over the course of three appearances. Gaviglio, who will be facing Baltimore for the first time, has a 1.97 ERA in seven games (five starts) at home.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Blue Jays placed CF Kevin Pillar (shoulder) on the 10-day disabled list and 2B Lourdes Gurriel Jr. on the seven-day concussion list earlier in the week.
2. Orioles 2B Jonathan Schoop is batting .368 in July.
3. Toronto outscored Baltimore 27-11 while sweeping four straight at home when the teams last met in June.