Blue Jays at Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles may be going nowhere fast and appear poised for a third consecutive last-place finish in the American League East this season, but their recent play may indicate a brighter future may not be too far away. The Orioles attempt to salvage a split of their four-game series when they host the division-rival Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday.
After getting outscored 16-4 over the first two games of the series and struggling through five hitless innings on Saturday, the Orioles evened the season series at six wins apiece behind the bat of Trey Mancini, who clubbed a three-run homer as part of his four-RBI effort en route to 6-4 triumph. Although the victory was only the club's second in six contests, Baltimore (37-73) is 9-7 over its last 16 games and in good position to avoid a repeat of last year's 115-loss disaster after beginning the season 28-66. Toronto saw it season-high five-game winning streak come to an end with Saturday's result, falling one triumph shy of matching its longest unbeaten stretch in over three years. Blue Jays rookie Vladimir Guerrero Jr. remained in a groove at the plate with three hits and is 15-for-32 with four homers and 18 RBIs over his last seven games.
TV: 1:05 p.m. ET, Sportsnet, TVA, OMNI (Toronto), MASN (Baltimore)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Blue Jays RH Sean Reid-Foley (1-1, 2.55 ERA) vs. Orioles RH Jimmy Yacabonis (1-2, 7.34)
Reid-Foley flirted with danger but managed to come away unscathed in Kansas City on Tuesday, recording a win after allowing four hits and four walks over five scoreless innings. The 23-year-old is 1-1 with a 3.65 ERA in three starts this season but has struggled with his control in five overall appearances, issuing 10 free passes over 17 2/3 frames. Reid-Foley was roughed up by Baltimore in his season debut on April 1, when he suffered the loss after yielding five runs - three earned - in two innings.
Yacabonis will open for the first time since July 25, when he allowed one run over two innings on the road against the Los Angeles Angels before yielding to Tom Eshelman (0-2, 6.35 ERA) - a pairing Baltimore intends to use again Sunday. Eshelman made his fifth major-league start on Tuesday at San Diego but did not factor in the decision after surrendering four runs in as many frames. The Cal State Fullerton product, who never has faced Toronto, has served up seven home runs in 22 2/3 innings and allowed right-handers to bat .327 against him.
WALK-OFFS
1. Blue Jays 2B Freddy Galvis homered for the second straight game on Saturday and is 5-for-7 with three RBIs over his last two contests.
2. In 27 games out of the leadoff spot, Baltimore INF Hanser Alberto is batting .364 with 13 RBIs and 12 runs.
3. Toronto OF Derek Fisher was diagnosed with a facial contusion after getting hit in the cheek by a fly ball on Saturday.