Orioles at Blue Jays
Despite their lowly standing in the American League East, the Toronto Blue Jays are having no problem producing runs. Slowing down the opposition is another matter. The Blue Jays will wrap up a 10-game homestand leading into the All-Star break when they play the first of three against the Baltimore Orioles on Friday night.
Toronto fell to 4-3 on the homestand despite scoring at least six runs in every game after blowing a five-run lead in Thursday night's 8-7 loss to Boston. Catcher Danny Jansen continued his recent tear by going deep twice and finished 7-for-12 with four homers and six RBIs in the three-game set. The Orioles own the worst overall record in the majors but have shown some offensive punch of late, scoring at least nine runs in half of their last six games. Renato Nunez is 6-for-13 with three homers and seven RBIs over the past four games but is only 3-for-16 against the Blue Jays this season.
TV: 7:07 p.m. ET, MASN (Baltimore), Sportsnet (Toronto)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Orioles RH Dylan Bundy (3-10, 4.91 ERA) vs. Blue Jays RH Aaron Sanchez (3-11, 6.31)
Bundy has lost four consecutive starts and is more than halfway to last year's career-worst total of 16 losses entering his final outing before the All-Star break. He lasted only four innings last time out against San Diego and allowed five runs on six hits while giving up a pair of homers for the second straight start, pushing his season total to 19. Justin Smoak is 5-for-17 with a homer off Bundy, who was 0-3 with a 6.35 ERA in four starts versus the Blue Jays in 2018.
Sanchez is mired in a deep spiral, losing his seventh consecutive start and 10th straight decision overall when he was tagged for six runs and seven hits over three innings versus Kansas City on Sunday. The performance capped a miserable month for the 27-year-old, who lost all six starts and sported a wretched 12.00 ERA in June. Sanchez has enjoyed success versus the Orioles with a 6-3 record and 3.90 ERA, but Chris Davis is 8-for-24 with four home runs against him.
WALK-OFFS
1. Jansen, who raised his batting average 40 points in nine games, is the fourth catcher in franchise history to homer in three straight contests.
2. Orioles 2B Hanser Alberto has hit safely in 10 of 11 games.
3. The Blue Jays have scored at least five runs in 14 of their last 15 games.