Toronto @ Baltimore preview
Oriole Park at Camden Yards
Last Meeting ( Jun 23, 2013 ) Baltimore 5, Toronto 13
The Baltimore Orioles appear to have recovered from a rough stretch and will be looking to take some momentum into the All-Star break when they open a three-game series against the visiting Toronto Blue Jays on Friday. The Orioles had dropped six of eight before recording a pair of wins over the Texas Rangers. The Blue Jays have lost six of nine to fall three games below .500.
Baltimore leads the major leagues in home runs and went to the long ball to earn a 3-1 win on Thursday, getting solo blasts from Chris Davis and Brian Roberts in the victory. Davis has only two hits - both homers - in his last eight games, dropping his batting average from .331 to .310. Toronto ranks second in the majors in homers but could not get one out of the yard in a 4-2 loss at Cleveland on Thursday.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, Rogers SportsNet (Toronto), MASN (Baltimore)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Blue Jays LH Mark Buehrle (5-5, 4.50 ERA) vs. Orioles RH Chris Tillman (10-3, 3.92)
Buehrle is coming off one of his best starts of the season, as he held the Minnesota Twins to six hits in seven scoreless innings last Friday. The veteran left-hander did not walk a batter in that start, marking only the second time in 18 outings for Toronto that he has been walk-free. Buehrle has not faced Baltimore since Aug. 11, 2011 but owns a 7-5 record with a 2.83 ERA in 18 career games (16 starts) against the Orioles.
Tillman had a six-start winning streak snapped last time out, when he was reached for five runs on 10 hits in 5 1/3 innings of a loss at New York. The 25-year-old has had some trouble getting deep into games and has only completed seven frames in four of his 18 turns. Tillman benefited from some offensive support against the Blue Jays on May 24 and earned the win despite allowing three runs on 10 hits in five innings.
WALK-OFFS
1. Blue Jays RHP Steve Delabar won the All-Star Final Vote and will join teammates Jose Bautista, Edwin Encarnacion and Brett Cecil on the American League All-Star team.
2. Baltimore OF Chris Dickerson (shoulder) has missed the last two games and is day-to-day.
3. Bautista is 2-for-19 with one RBI in his last five games.
PREDICTION: Orioles 6, Blue Jays 3