Toronto @ Baltimore preview
Oriole Park at Camden Yards
Last Meeting ( Aug 28, 2018 ) Toronto 5, Baltimore 12
The Baltimore Orioles are taking out some frustration on the visiting Toronto Blue Jays and have a shot at their first three-game sweep of the season when the teams meet Wednesday. The Blue Jays won 10 straight meetings between the American League East rivals before falling 7-0 in the series opener and then 12-5 in the second game Tuesday night.
Trey Mancini is one of several Baltimore hitters doing damage, as he is 4-for-8 with a home run, two doubles, one triple and six RBIs in the series. Jonathan Villar is 5-for-7 with four runs scored during the set and the speedster has a stolen base in three consecutive contests for the Orioles, whose only prior series sweep was a two-game set at the New York Mets in June. Alex Cobb has turned around a dismal start to the season while lowering his ERA over two runs in just over two months for Baltimore. He'll get the start Wednesday opposite rookie Ryan Borucki as Toronto looks to snap a three-game slide.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, Sportsnet, TVA Sports (Toronto), MASN (Baltimore)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Blue Jays LH Ryan Borucki (3-3, 4.12 ERA) vs. Orioles RH Alex Cobb (4-15, 5.00)
Borucki rebounded well from a disastrous outing two turns ago at Yankee Stadium to stifle the Philadelphia Phillies his last time out. He allowed two runs in 6 1/3 innings in the victory, his third in five starts in August. The 24-year-old, who is facing Baltimore for the first time, is 1-2 with a 5.86 ERA on the road.
Cobb allowed two runs or fewer in all five of his August starts while limiting opponents to 26 hits in 35 innings. He had a no-decision after yielding two runs and three hits in six frames versus the New York Yankees on Friday. The 30-year-old was rocked for 13 runs (10 earned) in 8 2/3 frames over two previous meetings with the Blue Jays this year and has a 4.34 ERA in 10 career matchups.
WALK-OFFS
1. Villar is 21-for-23 in stolen base attempts, including 7-for-7 in 25 games since being traded to Baltimore.
2. Blue Jays OF Randal Grichuk is batting .380 with five homers in 14 career games against the Orioles.
3. Toronto 1B Justin Smoak launched his 20th homer Tuesday to reach that mark for the third time in his career.
PREDICTION: Orioles 6, Blue Jays 4