Baltimore @ Toronto preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 20, 2018 ) Baltimore 3, Toronto 5

The Toronto Blue Jays haven't played very well for the majority of August, but the mere presence of the Baltimore Orioles this season has typically cured whatever has been ailing them. The Blue Jays look to improve to 9-0 at home against the Orioles this season when the American League East rivals meet for the second of three games in Toronto on Tuesday.

Toronto entered the series opener coming off a 2-5 road trip and having dropped 10 of its last 14 contests, but Kendrys Morales almost singlehandedly halted both slides with his second two-homer effort of the season in Monday's 5-3 victory. The Blue Jays (56-69) improved to 10-1 against Baltimore (37-88) in 2018 as a result, securing their eighth straight win against the team with the worst record in baseball. The Orioles received a solo homer from Renato Nunez and three hits from Craig Gentry, but those contributions proved to be mostly fruitless as they dropped to 16-48 on the road and 17-38 inside the division. Although he went hitless in the opener, Baltimore rookie outfielder Cedric Mullins has been a bright spot - batting .343 since making his major-league debut on Aug. 10.

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

PITCHING MATCHUP: Orioles RH Dylan Bundy (7-11, 4.99 ERA) vs. Blue Jays RH Sam Gaviglio (2-6, 5.13)

Bundy was roughed up at home for the second straight time in Wednesday's loss to the New York Mets, tying season highs in allowing seven earned runs and 11 hits while logging 5 1/3 innings. The native Oklahoman was tagged for a season high-tying eight runs (seven earned) across five frames in a no-decision versus Boston five days earlier. Morales is only 2-for-13 with a double against Bundy, who is 3-1 with a 2.27 ERA in nine appearances (five starts) versus Toronto.

Gaviglio has failed to produce a quality start in nine straight outings and is in the midst of a 15-game winless streak since notching his only victory as a starter this season on May 25. The 28-year-old was saddled with his sixth straight losing decision following Thursday's defeat in Kansas City in which he surrendered five runs over 4 1/3 frames. One of Gaviglio's better outings of the season came when he permitted four runs across 7 2/3 innings and struck out eight in a no-decision against Baltimore on July 20.

WALK-OFFS

1. Toronto OF Kevin Pillar is batting .444 with five doubles, a home run and eight RBIs during his seven-game hitting streak.

2. Baltimore 2B Jonathan Villar stole two bases Monday - the first time he swiped multiple bases in a game since recording three against the Blue Jays while with Milwaukee on May 23, 2017.

3. Toronto C Danny Jansen has notched at least one hit in each of his first six big-league games.

PREDICTION: Blue Jays 7, Orioles 5