Toronto @ Baltimore preview
Oriole Park at Camden Yards
Last Meeting ( Apr 22, 2013 ) Toronto 1, Baltimore 2
With the offense struggling and the defense crumbling, pitching is about all the Toronto Blue Jays have going right these days. They'll look to build on that Tuesday night as they resume their three-game series against the Orioles in Baltimore. Toronto was held to four hits and committed a key ninth-inning error that led to Nick Markakis' walk-off single in Monday's 2-1 Orioles victory. The loss dropped the Blue Jays - widely considered the team to beat in the AL East - to 8-12.
Monday's result looked rather familiar to the Orioles, who won more one-run games a year ago than any team in baseball. Baltimore has dominated its recent head-to-head series with Toronto - especially at Camden Yards, where the Orioles have won eight of their last 10 home games against the Blue Jays. They'll send Miguel Gonzalez to the mound Tuesday, while the Blue Jays counter with National League Cy Young Award winner R.A. Dickey.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, RSN (Toronto), MASN2 (Baltimore)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Blue Jays RH R.A. Dickey (2-2, 4.30 ERA) vs. Orioles RH Miguel Gonzalez (1-1, 4.00)
Dickey was removed after just 64 pitches last time out after complaining of neck and back soreness. The veteran knuckleballer admitted that he's still sore, but will tough it out as he looks for his third straight solid outing. Dickey has allowed just one run over his last two starts after surrendering 12 over his first 10 2/3 innings in a Toronto uniform. Dickey is 2-2 with a 2.97 ERA in seven career appearances (four starts) against the Orioles.
Gonzalez is getting to know his division rivals rather well in his second major-league season. The 28-year-old native of Guadalajara, Mexico will make his fourth start of 2013, with the previous three coming against the Tampa Bay Rays (two) and New York Yankees. Gonzalez has struggled so far, allowing opposing lineups to hit .277 against him while posting a 9/9 strikeout-to-walk ratio. He's 1-1 with a 4.32 ERA in 16 2/3 innings against Toronto.
WALK-OFFS
1. Players on Baltimore's roster are a combined 8-for-49 with zero RBIs and 16 strikeouts against Dickey.
2. Toronto LF Melky Cabrera (.266) is the only healthy regular hitting better than .260. Cabrera went 0-for-4 Monday.
3. Orioles CF Adam Jones has failed to reach base just once in his first 19 games.
PREDICTION: Blue Jays 4, Orioles 1