Baltimore @ Toronto preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 14, 2013 ) Toronto 4, Baltimore 7

The Baltimore Orioles are finding that the magic of their run to the 2012 postseason is sorely lacking one year later. Baltimore takes a three-game losing streak into Friday's series opener against the host Toronto Blue Jays. The Orioles dropped a 6-5 decision to the New York Yankees on Wednesday to fall 2 1/2 games behind Tampa Bay in the AL wild-card race, while the Blue Jays are coming off a three-game sweep at the hands of the visiting Los Angeles Angels.

Jason Hammel gets the call for the Orioles in his first start since being placed on the disabled list in late-July with a forearm injury. Hammel is 0-6 in his last 11 starts and already has surrendered 20 home runs in just 125 innings this season. He'll be opposed by hard-throwing journeyman Todd Redmond, who has posted back-to-back victories over the New York Yankees and Arizona Diamondbacks and been sensational at the Rogers Centre in 2013.

TV: 7:07 p.m. ET, MASN2 (Baltimore), RSN (Toronto)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Orioles RH Jason Hammel (7-8, 5.11 ERA) vs. Blue Jays RH Todd Redmond (3-2, 4.40)

Toronto has played a big part in Hammel's lengthy winless skid, handing him a six-inning no-decision in a 7-6 victory on June 21 and battering him for six runs over six frames in a 7-3 triumph just over three weeks later. Hammel worked two innings Sunday in a relief role in his first action since being activated from the DL, limiting the Chicago White Sox to a hit and a walk. The 30-year-old is 4-2 with a 4.52 ERA in 10 starts and three relief appearances versus the Blue Jays.

Redmond has been plagued by inconsistency in his first stint in a major-league rotation, but his home performances have been mostly solid. The 28-year-old is 2-0 with a 2.35 ERA and 34 strikeouts over 30 2/3 innings in Toronto, surrendering just three home runs over that stretch. Redmond faced Hammel and the Orioles back on July 13 and received a no-decision after allowing three runs on four hits over four frames.

WALK-OFFS

1. Orioles CF Adam Jones has terrorized Toronto pitching in 2013, hitting .346 with seven home runs and 12 RBIs in 13 games.

2. Baltimore has won just one of Hammel's last 10 starts.

3. Toronto leads the season series 7-6.

PREDICTION: Blue Jays 6, Orioles 4