Baltimore @ Toronto preview

Last Meeting ( May 26, 2013 ) Baltimore 5, Toronto 6

The Toronto Blue Jays are on their best run in nearly five years - and to keep it going, they'll need to upend a formidable division foe. R.A. Dickey vies for his team-leading seventh win as the host Blue Jays open a three-game series with the Baltimore Orioles on Friday night. Toronto has won eight straight games to make the American League East race a little more interesting as the teams approach the midway point of the season.

Pitching has been the biggest key for the Blue Jays, who lead the majors with a 2.06 ERA in June. Dickey has been mostly solid this month, but the knuckleballer will face a Baltimore lineup that boasts home-run leader Chris Davis, Blue Jays killer Adam Jones and infield phenom Manny Machado. The Orioles come in having taken two of three against Detroit to move within 1 1/2 games of AL East-leading Boston.

TV: 7:07 p.m. ET, MASN (Baltimore), RSN (Toronto)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Orioles RH Jason Hammel (7-4, 5.24 ERA) vs. Blue Jays RH R.A. Dickey (6-8, 4.90)

Given Hammel's success away from Camden Yards this season, the 30-year-old may be the ideal candidate to slow the surging Blue Jays. Hammel is 6-1 with a 3.97 ERA in eight road starts, with his only loss coming at Tropicana Field two weeks ago. Hammel has yet to face the Blue Jays in 2013, but is 4-1 with a 3.81 ERA in 49 2/3 career innings against them.

Dickey finally returns to the Rogers Centre mound after making his previous four starts on the road. His last home start was a forgettable one, as he was torched for six runs on nine hits over 6 2/3 innings in a narrow loss to the Orioles on May 25. The defending National League Cy Young Award winner is 2-4 lifetime against Baltimore, with a 4.11 ERA in 46 innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Toronto bullpen has a 0.65 ERA and a 0.86 WHIP in 55 2/3 innings this month.

2. Baltimore has a 4-3 edge in the season series after the teams battled to a four-game split at the Rogers Centre last month.

3. Jones is the only regular in the Baltimore lineup with a home run against Dickey.

PREDICTION: Blue Jays 6, Orioles 3