Toronto @ Baltimore preview
Oriole Park at Camden Yards
Last Meeting ( Jul 13, 2013 ) Toronto 7, Baltimore 3
The Baltimore Orioles will seek their first series win of the month as they finish up the first half of the season by hosting the Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday. After wrapping up June with four straight victories, Baltimore is 5-9 in July following a 7-3 loss to Toronto on Saturday. Edwin Encarnacion homered for the 23rd time in 71 career games against the Orioles to spearhead a 12-hit Blue Jays' attack.
Chris Davis belted his major league-leading 36th blast in a losing cause for Baltimore. That helped the hosts build a 3-2 advantage before the Toronto bullpen did an admirable job. Five relievers combined to record five scoreless frames and throw 83 pitches, giving Sunday's starter Josh Johnson more incentive to work deep into the finale.
TV: 1:35 p.m. ET, Sportsnet One (Toronto), MASN (Baltimore)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Blue Jays RH Josh Johnson (1-4, 4.62 ERA) vs. Orioles RH Scott Feldman (7-7, 3.87)
Johnson has had inconsistent results since coming off the disabled list at the beginning of June. He posted a 1.86 ERA in his first three starts before producing an 8.68 mark in his next two. Since then, the big righty has gone 0-2 despite a 2.25 ERA. Johnson lasted seven innings his last time out at Cleveland, one of just four starts this year in which he lasted that long. The 29-year-old got the win against Baltimore on June 23. He has never pitched in Camden Yards.
Feldman has also seen varied results since his trade from the Chicago Cubs on July 2. After a solid six innings in Baltimore's win over the Chicago White Sox on July 3, he was reached for seven runs in just 5 1/3 frames Monday against Texas, with which he pitched for eight seasons. Feldman has struggled in 12 career appearances (six starts) against Toronto, going 0-4 with a 6.11 ERA.
WALK-OFFS
1. Blue Jays RF Jose Bautista is 5-for-11 with a home run and two doubles against Feldman.
2. Orioles manager Buck Showalter is two wins shy of becoming the fourth manager in major league history to record 250 victories with four different teams.
3. Following the series finale, the American League East rivals do not meet again until Sept. 13.
PREDICTION: Orioles 6, Blue Jays 5