Two teams on the opposite end of a spectrum will meet today for a four-game series that includes a series-opening doubleheader.
The Baltimore Orioles will host the Toronto Blue Jays in an AL East battle. The O’s, who lead the East and are viewed as a no-doubt postseason contender, are going to solidify their lead in the AL East while also working to add pieces for a long run.
The Blue Jays have sat in the cellar of the AL East for a good portion of the season, and many see them as a team that might offload talent, including original cornerstone piece Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
There will be many things to watch for in this series as the trade deadline will have concluded before Tuesday’s game, and the Jays have actually split the season series with the Birds up to this point.
To open this four-game set, the Orioles will send newly acquired right-hander Zach Eflin (5-7, 4.09 ERA) right into the thick of things. Eflin last pitched against Toronto on July 24, going 5.2 innings and allowing two runs in a no-decision. This will be his fourth appearance this season against the Jays, in which he is 0-1 in three games, covering 17.1 innings.
Rookie left-hander Cade Povich (1-4, 6.27 ERA) will serve as the 27th man and start the second game of today’s doubleheader, his first start since before the All-Star break. He will be followed by two “to be determined” pitchers, most likely Corbin Burnes and Grayson Rodriguez.
Toronto will send Yaríel Rodriguez (1-3, 3.69 ERA) to the mound to open the series. He will be followed by Bowden Francis (3-2, 5.82 ERA), Christ Bassitt (8-9, 3.78 ERA) and Yusei Kikuchi (4-9, 4.75 ERA), if he’s not traded, to round out the series.
It’s not too often that you can pin a series on one player’s performance, but this series will be determined based off the play of a key figure for the Orioles, which leads us into our BATTERY ❌-FACTOR.
BATTERY ❌️-FACTOR
Gunnar Henderson has been in the midst of a slump coming out of the All-Star break and hasn’t really played a big role against the Blue Jays thus far in his young career.
In 29 games against the North, Henderson is slashing .238/.310/.400/.710 with four home runs, 15 RBIs, 11 walks and 29 strikeouts. Over his last seven games, Henderson is slashing .192/.323/.269/.592 with only one RBI, one run and no long balls.
The Orioles are at home, and the crowd will be behind the Birds. What better way to get the crowd energized than for Henderson to lead an offensive explosion against this division rival?
Henderson will be the catalyst thar will invigorate the crowd and kick the lineup into overdrive. Hence, Henderson is our BATTERY ❌️-FACTOR for the series.
GAME 1 STARTING LINEUP
The first game of today’s doubleheader is scheduled for 3:05 p.m. EST time, with the second game scheduled to start almost immediately after. Game three will begin at 6:35 p.m. EST, and game four is slated to start at 12:35 p.m. EST.
The Orioles have a chance to take the season series with a sweep but could also give them a large edge by simply winning the series.
Will the Orioles protect their nest, or will the Blue Jays invade and spoil the Birds’ party? Tune into MASN or your favorite local Orioles Radio Network station.
How do you see this series playing out? Let us know in the comments below! Make sure to follow The Baltimore Battery on Facebook, Twitter (X) and TikTok, and use the hashtag #baltimorebattery when sharing our content!
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