Blue Jays at Orioles
Bo Bichette, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Cavan Biggio will always be linked as sons of former major leaguers who made their debut with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2019. Guerrero and Biggio experienced modest starts en route to becoming every day players but Bichette has exploded on the scene and hopes to stay hot when Toronto visits the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday to start a four-game series.
Bichette belted his first career home run and went 3-for-5 as the Blue Jays completed a three-game sweep in Kansas City with a 4-1 victory Thursday and is 6-for-13 in three contests after making his major league debut Monday, helping Toronto (43-67) record its first three-game winning streak since April 26-28. "What I've been telling Biggio and Bo when they got here: 'This is your clubhouse, here we go. You guys were leaders in the minor leagues, it's the same thing here. Just because you're a rookie, don't (avoid being) a leader in the big leagues. Go ahead and start now," Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo told reporters. "And they have been doing that." Baltimore (36-71) salvaged the finale of its two-game series at San Diego with an 8-5 victory Tuesday and is 9-9 since the All-Star break. Montoyo told reporters that rookie Trent Thornton (elbow) would be activated off the injured list and start Thursday opposite Asher Wojciechowski, who has won two straight starts.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, Sportsnet, TVA (Toronto), MASN (Baltimore)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Blue Jays RH Trent Thornton (3-7, 5.45 ERA) vs. Orioles RH Asher Wojciechowski (2-3, 3.60)
Thornton is 1-1 with a 2.45 ERA in two starts against Baltimore after allowing three hits and striking out five in six shutout innings of a 6-1 victory over the Orioles on July 7. The 25-year-old North Carolina native, though, struggled in his last two starts before landing on the IL, yielding four runs in three innings of a no-decision in Toronto's 7-5 victory at Detroit on July 20 and permitting five runs over 1 1/3 innings of a 10-8 loss at Boston on July 15. Thornton owns a 1.54 WHIP and .270 batting average against while striking out 100 in 99 innings over 21 starts this season.
Wojciechowski allowed two runs, three hits and one walk with six strikeouts in seven innings of a 9-3 victory over the Los Angels Angels in Anaheim on Friday. The 30-year-old South Carolina native was even better in his previous turn, yielding one hit and two walks while striking out 10 in 7 1/3 innings of a 5-0 victory over Boston on July 21. Wojciechowski was 0-3 with a 5.74 ERA in his first four games (three starts) with Baltimore after he was acquired from the Cleveland organization July 1.
WALK-OFFS
1. Bichette's six hits match the franchise record after three games previously accomplished by Rowdy Tellez (2018), Aaron Hill (2005), Lloyd Moseby (1980) and Danny Ainge (1979).
2. Orioles 1B Chris Davis (.181) has struck out 105 times in 232 at-bats this season.
3. The Blue Jays traded RHPs Aaron Sanchez and Joe Biagini to Houston for OF Derek Fisher and sent RHP Daniel Hudson to Washington for RHP Kyle Johnston, who hasn't advanced above Class A in his three professional seasons.