Toronto @ Baltimore preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 25, 2012 ) Toronto 4, Baltimore 0

The Baltimore Orioles have only a few more chances to get catch up to the New York Yankees before the wild card becomes their only shot at the playoffs. The Orioles have dropped back-to-back games and trail the Yankees by two games in the loss column. Only a comeback by the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday night kept Baltimore within 11/2 games of New York atop the American league East. The Toronto Blue Jays are just trying to escape the division basement.

The Orioles were let down by their pitching in the nightcap of a doubleheader on Monday and then got nothing going offensively in a 4-0 setback on Tuesday to give them back-to-back losses after having won seven of the previous eight games. Baltimore will play four more at home, with the Boston Red Sox coming to town this weekend, before finishing up at Tampa Bay. The Blue Jays are chasing the Red Sox in the East, with both teams hoping to avoid last place. Toronto currently trails by one-half game and will play a big part in the division title race as well. The Blue Jays host the Yankees in a four-game series this weekend.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, RSN (Toronto), MASN 2 (Baltimore)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Blue Jays RH Carlos Villanueva (7-6, 3.88 ERA) vs. Orioles RH Miguel Gonzalez (7-4, 3.52)

Villanueva will be trying to bounce back after getting crushed at Tampa Bay last Friday. The veteran right-hander was knocked around for seven runs on eight hits in just 2 1/3 innings without notching a strikeout. Villanueva has had a rough time against Baltimore twice in the last six weeks, absorbing a pair of losses while allowing a total of 10 runs in 12 1/3 innings. Chris Davis is 3-for-4 with a pair of homers off Villanueva this season.

Gonzalez has become the most consistent starter for the Orioles, allowing two runs or less in six of his last eight starts. The rookie right-hander surrendered two runs on seven hits to earn a win at Boston last Friday. His worst outing this month came at Toronto on Sept. 5, when Gonzalez was knocked around for five runs in 6 1/3 innings to absorb the loss. Rajai Davis homered off Gonzalez in that outing.

WALK-OFFS

1. Orioles RHP Jason Hammel (knee) threw a bullpen session on Tuesday. How he feels Wednesday will help determine if he can return before the end of the regular season.

2. Toronto C J.P. Arencibia is 5-for-6 in the last two games. He had totaled two hits in his previous 10 contests.

3. Baltimore CF Adam Jones is 7-for-13 in the series and has multiple hits in five of his last seven contests.