The Baltimore Orioles have spent the past two weeks slowly digging themselves out of an early-season hole.
Fresh off a series victory against the Boston Red Sox, the Orioles travel north of the border for a three-game showdown against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre.
Baltimore enters the series having won or split four consecutive series and eight of its last 11 games, while Toronto is trying to build momentum after avoiding a sweep from the Atlanta Braves on Thursday.
Just one week ago, the Orioles and Blue Jays split a four-game series in Baltimore. Neither club was able to gain much separation, but this weekend presents a chance for one team to do exactly that. With both teams hovering around the .500 mark and trying to climb back into the AL East race, every divisional game suddenly carries extra weight.
For the Birds, winning this series would accomplish more than just another step toward .500. It would allow them to leapfrog Toronto in the standings and continue their climb toward the postseason.
The Pitching Matchups
Game 1: Brandon Young vs. Trey Yesavage
The opener features a rematch from last week’s series in Baltimore. Brandon Young has been one of the Orioles’ most pleasant surprises this season, stepping into a larger role than anyone expected entering the year. The rookie right-hander continues to give Baltimore quality innings and will once again face one of Toronto’s promising young arms in Trey Yesavage.
Game 2: Kyle Bradish vs. TBD
Few Orioles have been hotter than Kyle Bradish. He shut down Toronto over seven strong innings last weekend and has allowed just three earned runs over his last 24.1 innings. If Bradish continues this run, Baltimore will have a significant advantage in the middle game of the series against whoever takes the mound for the Jays.
Game 3: Shane Baz vs. Kevin Gausman
Shane Baz has quietly become one of the Orioles’ most reliable starters, while former Oriole Kevin Gausman remains one of the most recognizable faces in Toronto’s rotation. This has the chance to be the matchup of the series.
News Ahead Of The Series
The Orioles arrive in Toronto playing arguably their best baseball of the season.
The offense has started to show signs of life thanks to improved production from Colton Cowser, Coby Mayo and a resurging Adley Rutschman. Meanwhile, the rotation has stabilized behind Bradish, Baz and Young. The Orioles just took a series from Boston and have gone 9-4 over their last 13 games.
Toronto, meanwhile, continues to battle significant pitching injuries. Several key members of the Blue Jays’ projected rotation remain sidelined, forcing the club to rely on younger arms and bullpen games. Despite those challenges, the Jays still feature a dangerous lineup led by Vladimir Guerrero Jr., George Springer and Kazuma Okamoto.
There is also good news to report for Birdland. Prior to the start of game one, closer Ryan Helsley threw a bullpen session. Helsley is recovering from right elbow discomfort and could make his return off the injured list later this month.
Battery ❌️-Factor: Adley Rutschman
When Adley Rutschman is going well, the Orioles look like a completely different team.
The offense has begun heating up around him, but Baltimore still needs its franchise catcher to be the consistent force in the middle of the lineup. A productive weekend from Rutschman could be the difference between winning and losing a tightly contested series.
Toronto’s pitching staff is already operating with little margin for error. If Rutschman can force them into hitter’s counts and drive runners home, the O’s offense has enough depth to put pressure on the Blue Jays throughout the weekend.
Our Prediction
This feels like a series where the Orioles can continue proving their recent surge is real.
Baltimore owns the stronger momentum entering the weekend, its rotation is throwing the ball exceptionally well and the offense is finally beginning to support the pitching staff. Toronto remains dangerous, especially at home, but the Orioles appear to have found an identity over the last two weeks.
Expect a hard-fought series from both of these teams.
Prediction: O’s take two of three and move ahead of Toronto in the AL East standings.
What are your thoughts heading into this series? Let us know in the comments below! Make sure to follow The Baltimore Battery on Facebook, X, Bluesky and TikTok, and use the hashtag #baltimorebattery when sharing our content!
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