Orioles at Blue Jays
The Baltimore Orioles are on pace to have the worst record in the majors for the second straight year, but they at least have managed to solve a hex against one American League East rival. The Orioles lost all 10 meetings in Toronto in 2018 but can post their second series victory at Rogers Centre this season with a win over the Blue Jays on Saturday afternoon.
An unlikely pitching duel in the series opener was upstaged by an unlikely offensive star in Chris Davis, who homered and drove in three runs Friday to lift Baltimore to a 4-1 victory. Although he is batting only .182, Davis is 8-for-23 over the last seven games overall while boosting his career totals at Rogers Centre to 20 homers and 48 RBIs in 67 games. Toronto managed only four hits in the series opener while using a patchwork lineup that was missing two of its potent hitters in Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (wrist) and Randal Grichuk (back) due to injury. The loss dropped the Blue Jays to 4-4 on their 10-game homestand and ended an eight-game run in which they had scored at least six runs.
TV: 3:07 p.m. ET, MLB Network, MASN (Baltimore), Sportsnet (Toronto)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Orioles RH Andrew Cashner (8-3, 4.03 ERA) vs. Blue Jays LH Clayton Richard (1-4, 6.51)
One of the few bright spots in a dismal first half for Baltimore, Cashner was victorious in his second straight start with seven scoreless innings of three-hit ball versus Cleveland last time out to double his win total from 2018. He earned his first victory of the season in Toronto on April 2 by blanking the Blue Jays on four hits over six innings to improve to 2-2 with a 2.68 ERA against them in his career. Justin Smoak and Freddy Galvis are a combined 6-for-39 versus Cashner.
Richard finally earned his first victory with the Blue Jays on Monday, matching his season high with six innings and limiting Kansas City to three runs on seven hits over six innings. It was the second straight quality start for the 35-year-old, who took the loss at Yankee Stadium on June 25 after giving up three runs and eight hits over six innings. Jonathan Villar is 0-for-7 with four strikeouts against Richard, who has permitted eight home runs across 37 1/3 innings this year.
WALK-OFFS
1. Blue Jays C Danny Jansen is 8-for-16 with seven extra-base hits during a four-game hitting streak.
2. Davis hit his 40th career homer versus Toronto, his most against any opponent.
3. Blue Jays RHP Marcus Stroman (pectoral) will not pitch this weekend and may have to skip the All-Star Game.