Baltimore @ Toronto preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 27, 2010 ) Baltimore 2, Toronto 8

The Baltimore Orioles were one of four teams Jose Bautista played for during his rookie season in the major leagues.

Given the way he has victimized them in 2010, the Orioles probably wish they had given him a closer look.

Bautista looks to continue his torrid hitting Wednesday as the Toronto Blue Jays host the Orioles in the finale of their three-game series at the Rogers Centre. The Blue Jays will send Brad Mills (0-0) to the hill for his first start of the season, while Baltimore counters with veteran right-hander Jeremy Guthrie (4-10).

All eyes will be on Bautista as he looks to build on his lead in the major-league home-run race. The 29-year-old became the first major leaguer to hit the 30-homer plateau Tuesday night, belting a pair of long balls as the Blue Jays cruised to an 8-2 victory for their 11th straight win over the Orioles this season.

Bautista broke in with the Orioles in 2004, but he didn't spend much time in Maryland. He was plucked off waivers by Tampa Bay in early June, then played just 12 games with the Devil Rays before he was shuffled off to Kansas City. A month later, he was dealt to the New York Mets for Justin Huber.

His tenure with the Mets didn't even last a day, as he was quickly dealt to the Pittsburgh Pirates in a trade for starter Kris Benson.

Bautista is enjoying better times in 2010, having garnered a berth on the American League All-Star team as he continues to put together a career season. He has four home runs over his past three games, and has driven in a whopping 16 runs in his past eight games, giving him 75 RBIs on the season.

The native of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic has been especially dangerous against Baltimore this season, hitting .326 with six homers and 15 RBIs in 11 games. He has scored 13 of his 65 runs this season against the Orioles.

Baltimore will send Guthrie to the mound in hopes he can contain Bautista and the rest of the powerhouse Blue Jays lineup. Guthrie has had a dismal season but has thrown better of late, allowing just three earned runs over his last two outings. Guthrie earned a victory in his last appearance, scattering two runs and six hits over seven strong innings in a 3-2 triumph over Minnesota.

The 31-year-old is 2-5 all-time against the Blue Jays, but has a respectable 3.56 ERA over 13 starts. He picked up a no-decision in his last meeting with Toronto, limiting the Jays to a lone run over 6 2/3 innings while striking out six. Baltimore went on to lose the game 3-2.

Mills will make just his third major-league start for Toronto. The 25-year-old left-hander had a rough stint with the big club in 2009, going 0-1 with a 14.09 ERA over a pair of starts against the Philadelphia Phillies.

Mills went 7-4 with a 4.13 ERA in 16 starts this season for the Jays' Triple-A affiliate in Las Vegas.