Baltimore @ Toronto preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 19, 2019 ) Toronto 8, Baltimore 4

The Baltimore Orioles and Toronto Blue Jays are playing out the string in the last week of the season while taking a look at some of the players that might help push the franchises back into playoff contention. The Orioles are coming off their first series win in a month and will try to continue the strong push to the finish when they visit the Blue Jays for the opener of a three-game series on Monday.

Baltimore nearly pulled off a three-game sweep of the Seattle Mariners in its final home series over the weekend - dropping the middle game 7-6 in 13 innings - and is getting a glimpse of the future with outfielder Austin Hays, who hit safely in each of the last five games and drove in five runs in that span. Hays went 4-for-7 with a home run, two doubles and three runs scored in three games - all losses - at home against the Blue Jays last week and fellow rookie John Means earned the win in Sunday's 2-1 victory, giving the team some hope for the future. Toronto's future has been on display most of the season with Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Cavan Biggio and Bo Bichette each showing flashes of impending stardom. The Orioles will send another rookie to the mound on Monday, when right-hander Chandler Shepherd goes up against Blue Jays veteran righty Clay Buchholz.

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

PITCHING MATCHUP: Orioles RH Chandler Shepherd (0-0, 4.91 ERA) vs. Blue Jays RH Clay Buchholz (1-5, 6.48)

Shepherd is making his fourth career appearance and second start after allowing three runs on four hits over four innings against the Blue Jays on Tuesday. The 27-year-old served up home runs to Randal Grichuk and Biggio in that start but did not factor in the decision. Shepherd went 3-5 with a 4.60 ERA in 14 games - 12 starts - for Triple-A Norfolk before being recalled.

Buchholz is coming off his worst start of 2019 after getting knocked around for seven runs and 10 hits over 3 2/3 innings at Baltimore on Wednesday. The 35-year-old Texan is coming to the end of another injury-marred campaign and is 1-3 in five starts since returning from a shoulder injury that sidelined him nearly four months. Buchholz surrendered home runs to Jonathan Villar and Anthony Santander in Wednesday's loss to the Orioles.

WALK-OFFS

1. Orioles OF Trey Mancini (bruised leg) sat out Sunday and is day-to-day.

2. Blue Jays batters struck out 30 times in the last two games.

3. Toronto has six rookies with 10 or more homers (Guerrero, Biggio, Bichette, Danny Jansen, Rowdy Tellez and Billy McKinney).

PREDICTION: Blue Jays 6, Orioles 5