Blue Jays at Orioles
The Toronto Blue Jays fully committed to the next wave of young talent in their organization following the trades of veterans such as Eric Sogard and Marcus Stroman earlier this week, and they have to be pleased with the early returns. The Blue Jays seek to extend their winning streak to six games - their longest since a seven-game run over three years ago - on Saturday when they visit the Baltimore Orioles for the third of four contests.
Toronto turned to its recent familiar recipe of success of strong pitching and power hitting, as five relievers combined on a seven-hitter while Freddy Galvis and Brandon Drury homered during Friday's 5-2 victory. While the 20-year-old Vladimir Guerrero Jr. managed only a first-inning RBI single in four at-bats, he still became the youngest player in major-league history to collect at least 17 RBIs over any six-game span - a stretch during which he is also 12-for-28 and belted four homers. The Orioles have dropped four of five following a 7-3 surge and watched their offense mostly sputter over the last four contests - scoring two runs or fewer three times. Chris Davis connected on a two-run blast to account for all of his team's offense Friday and become the fastest Oriole to hit 250 career home runs (1,110 games).
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, Sportsnet (Toronto), MASN (Baltimore)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Blue Jays LH Thomas Pannone (2-4, 5.98 ERA) vs. Orioles RH Dylan Bundy (5-11, 5.24)
Pannone remained winless as a member of the rotation in 2019 but enjoyed his first quality start Monday as part of a no-decision in Kansas City, allowing three runs (two earned) on four hits and a walk over six innings. It was a marked improvement for the 25-year-old, who had lost each of his previous three turns while surrendering 15 runs in 9 1/3 frames. Pannone has encountered no such problems in two relief appearances against Baltimore this season, firing five scoreless innings.
Bundy surrendered multiple homers for the seventh time in 20 starts but escaped with a no-decision Sunday in Los Angeles after permitting four runs on seven hits and two walks over five innings against the Angels. The Oklahoma native has struggled mightily at home this season, going 1-7 with a 6.16 ERA in 10 outings while allowing opponents to bat .299. Bundy enjoyed one of his best starts of the season July 5 against Toronto, earning a win after allowing one run on three hits and two walks over 6 2/3 innings.
WALK-OFFS
1. Blue Jays SS Bo Bichette doubled in the fifth inning Friday to become the first player in team history to amass nine hits through his first five career games.
2. Davis has hit safely in five consecutive home games, batting .421 over that stretch.
3. Toronto has hit a major-league best 81 homers since June 16.