Toronto @ Baltimore preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 28, 2011 ) Baltimore 5, Toronto 8

THE STORY: The Baltimore Orioles must be pleased to be home again after losing seven of their last nine on a 10-game road trip. The Orioles are 26-28 at home, where they play their next 10 games. They will send newly-acquired Tommy Hunter to the mound to start a three-game series against the Toronto Blue Jays Friday night. Baltimore has not won a series since June 24-26 against Cincinnati and hasn’t beaten an American League team in a series since June 6-8 against Oakland. Toronto is coming off two straight losses in Tampa Bay, after it had won five of six. The Blue Jays have beaten the Orioles nine of their last 12 meetings, six of nine in 2011.

TV: 7:05 p.m. EST; RSN (Toronto), MASN (Baltimore).

PITCHING MATCHUP: Blue Jays LH Brad Mills (0-1, 2.57) vs. Orioles RH Tommy Hunter (1-1, 3.31).

Mills gave up six hits and two runs over seven innings against Texas July 30 to lose in his first outing since being recalled. Mills pitched 30 innings combined the previous two seasons, allowing 26 runs. The left hander gave up eight runs in seven innings against the Rays in 2010, without a decision.
Hunter gets his first start after being used as a reliever in Texas. He started 41 games in 2009 and 2010 for the Rangers, going 22-10 with a 3.90 ERA. Hunter pitched an inning in relief Tuesday for the Orioles, allowing a run in one inning. He is 1-1 lifetime against the Blue Jays with a 6.46 ERA over 23 2/3 innings. The current Jays roster is 10-for-57 against Hunter.

ABOUT THE BLUE JAYS (56-55): If not for some poor relief pitching Thursday, the Jays could have won their third straight series. The Jays now have 19 blown saves in 42 opportunities, near the bottom in the majors at 55 percent. But there were some good things in the 12-inning loss at Tampa Bay. Jose Bautista hit his second home run in three days after going 14 without one and Adam Lind busted out of a 0-for-22 stretch with three hits. Colby Rasmus, 5-for-30 since being acquired from St, Louis, also had a pair of hits.

ABOUT THE ORIOLES (43-65): While the Orioles continue to search for answers with their pitching staff, they are hitting reasonably well. Baltimore had 25 hits combined in the first and third games of the last series against Kansas City. Vladimir Guerrero has an eight-game hitting streak, going 13-for-32. Adam Jones has seven multi-hit games in his last 11 and a team-high 63 RBIs. Shortstop J.J. Hardy belted his 100th career home run Thursday, but left the game with a left ankle sprain and is day to day. Infielder Cesar Izturis, out since mid-May after elbow surgery, is expected to come off the disabled list Friday.

FINAL PITCH: Toronto outfielder Travis Snider, batting .225, was optioned to Triple-A Las Vegas, and pitcher Carlos Villanueva was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right forearm. Highly-regarded third baseman prospect Brett Lawrie and relief pitcher Luis Perez, both up from Las Vegas, will replace them on the roster.