Toronto @ Baltimore preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 17, 2018 ) Toronto 5, Baltimore 0

The road has not been kind to the Toronto Blue Jays for the bulk of the season, but their current nine-game trek against American League East rivals is ending about as well as it could be considering how poorly it started. The Blue Jays eye a fourth consecutive victory Tuesday when they continue a three-game set against the Baltimore Orioles.

Toronto began its road trip getting outscored 23-5 while losing four straight against Boston and the New York Yankees, but the Blue Jays ended a 1-11 stretch away from home with an 8-7 win at Yankee Stadium on Saturday. They pulled out another one-run victory the next day in New York and improved to 31-45 on the road following Monday's 5-0 triumph in the series opener, beating Baltimore for the 13th time in 17 tries this season. By virtue of their most recent setback, the Orioles (43-107) matched the 1988 club for the most losses since the franchise moved from St. Louis in 1954. Baltimore is in no danger of tying the 1962 New York Mets for the most single-season defeats in major-league history (120) with only 12 games remaining, but it is four losses away from tying the 1939 franchise record - accomplished in 156 games.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, Sportsnet One (Toronto), MASN 2 (Baltimore)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Blue Jays RH Aaron Sanchez (4-6, 4.90 ERA) vs. Orioles RH Dylan Bundy (8-14, 5.48)

Sanchez took a hard-luck loss Wednesday at Boston in his best start in four trips to the mound since returning from the disabled list, allowing one run on three hits and three walks in seven frames. Prior to his last performance, the 26-year-old went 1-0 despite an 8.79 ERA in three turns since missing more than two months with discomfort in his right middle finger. Chris Davis (8-for-23, four home runs) has drawn 11 walks versus Sanchez, who is 1-0 with a 1.88 ERA in two 2018 starts against Baltimore.

Bundy enjoyed one of his finest outings of the season Thursday against Oakland and won for the first time since July 29, yielding two runs on six hits while striking out eight over six innings. The Oklahoma native leads the majors in home runs allowed (38) and has surrendered at least one in 12 straight starts. Kendrys Morales (5-for-16) and Justin Smoak (5-for-14) have each homered against Bundy, who is 0-2 with a 7.88 ERA in three starts versus the Blue Jays this season.

WALK-OFFS

1. Blue Jays OF Kevin Pillar is batting .408 with four doubles, four homers and 11 RBIs in 12 contests against the Orioles this season.

2. Baltimore 2B Jonathan Villar has 14 steals in 42 games since arriving from Milwaukee at the trade deadline, matching his total in 87 games with the Brewers.

3. Toronto's 13 wins against the Orioles this season are more than double the number of victories it has against any opponent.

PREDICTION: Blue Jays 6, Orioles 3