Toronto @ Baltimore preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 18, 2019 ) Toronto 11, Baltimore 10

It's a near-impossible task to pick out the most crushing defeat for a team that has lost 103 games, but the Baltimore Orioles added one to their short list on Wednesday night. On the verge of winning three straight series for the first time this season, Baltimore imploded in the late innings and must regroup for Thursday's rubber match versus the visiting Toronto Blue Jays.

Randal Grichuk has tormented the Orioles all season and delivered another staggering blow with a go-ahead grand slam with two outs in the ninth inning of Wednesday's 11-10 victory. The stunning blast -- part of a six-run ninth -- extended Grichuk's hitting streak to 10 games overall and boosted his numbers this season against Baltimore to 14-for-40 with six homers, 12 RBIs and five doubles. Trey Mancini is 11-for-28 with four homers and 14 RBIs, including seven in this series, during a six-game hitting streak for the Orioles, who blew leads of 7-1 and 9-5. Jonathan Villar also has hit safely in six straight games after going deep for the second straight night and joining Mancini as the 11th set of teammates in franchise history to each score 100 runs.

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

PITCHING MATCHUP: Blue Jays LH Anthony Kay (0-0, 6.30 ERA) vs. Orioles RH Gabriel Ynoa (1-8, 5.74)

Kay, a trade-deadline acquisition from the New York Mets in the deal for Marcus Stroman, took a step backward in his second career start, lasting 4 1/3 innings and allowing five runs and seven hits in a no-decision against the New York Yankees. A first-round draft pick in 2016, he turned in a strong performance in his major league debut, limiting Tampa Bay to two runs and four hits while striking out eight, but he had to settle for a no-decision. Opponents are 6-for-15 against Kay with runners on base.

With the Orioles pushing back scheduled starter Aaron Brooks, Ynoa gets the nod and will attempt to halt a winless drought that has spanned more than two months. The 26-year-old Dominican made his 11th start and 34th appearance at Detroit on Saturday and did not factor in the decision after giving up two runs and seven hits over four innings. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. is 3-for-4 against Ynoa, who owns a 4.50 ERA in three appearances versus Toronto and lost his lone start with five innings of three-run ball on June 13.

WALK-OFFS

1. Blue Jays rookie 3B Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is 23-for-49 versus Baltimore this season.

2. Orioles RHP Miguel Castro had allowed two hits over 10 straight scoreless appearances before he was victimized for five runs in the ninth.

3. Blue Jays rookie C Reese McGuire has multiple hits in seven of his last 18 games.

PREDICTION: Blue Jays 7, Orioles 5