Baltimore @ Toronto preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 10, 2011 ) Baltimore 4, Toronto 5

THE STORY: Dustin McGowan makes his first major league start in 38 months when the Toronto Blue Jays conclude a three-game series against the Baltimore Orioles on Sunday. Ironically, McGowan injured his pitching shoulder against the Orioles on July 8, 2008, and endured two surgeries as part of his comeback trail. McGowan was a 12-game winner for the Blue Jays in 2007 and was 6-7 in 2008 when his season ended with the injury. He didn’t pitch at all the last two seasons and made 12 minor-league appearances this season before his recent recall.

TV: 1:07 p.m. ET, MASN2 (Baltimore), RSN (Toronto).

PITCHING MATCHUP: Orioles RH Tommy Hunter (3-3, 5.28 ERA) vs. Blue Jays RH Dustin McGowan (0-0, 6.75 ERA).

Hunter is 2-2 with a 6.09 ERA in eight outings (seven starts) since Baltimore acquired him from Texas. He lost to the New York Yankees in his last start when he gave up five runs (four earned) in 6 2/3 innings. Hunter has walked just four batters in 44 1/3 innings for the Orioles. Hunter is 0-1 with a 5.52 ERA against the Blue Jays this season and is 1-2 with a 6.95 career ERA in seven appearances (five starts) against them.

McGowan pitched four innings of relief against the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday in his first appearance of the season. He gave up three runs and five hits. Orioles star Vladimir Guerrero is just 1-for-13 against McGowan.

ABOUT THE BLUE JAYS (73-73): Toronto was one out away from losing Saturday before scoring twice in the bottom of the ninth for a 5-4 victory. J.P. Arencibia singled home the winning run. Jose Bautista hit his major league-leading 41st homer and had two hits and two RBIs. Rookie Brett Lawrie also homered. Lawrie is 3-for-5 against Hunter. Edwin Encarnacion sat out the contest with a shoulder injury suffered Friday. He is questionable for Sunday’s game. Shortstop Yunel Escobar was hit by a pitch on his left elbow in the second inning and left the contest. X-rays were negative and Escobar is listed as day-to-day.

ABOUT THE ORIOLES (58-86): Closer Kevin Gregg blew his seventh save in 27 opportunities as Baltimore’s chances for a fourth straight victory got away. Gregg has blown three of his last six opportunities. Guerrero is swinging a hot bat and went 3-for-4 Saturday and drove in the go-ahead run in the eighth with a booming one-hop double to center. Guerrero is 12-for-23 over the last six games. Chris Davis had two hits and two RBIs while playing with a sore shoulder. Center fielder Adam Jones was a late scratch due to an ankle injury. Jones fouled a pitch off his ankle Friday and might return Sunday.

FINAL PITCH: The 21-year-old Lawrie has been a terror in his first 35 major league games. Saturday’s homer was his ninth and he also has four triples. Lawrie is batting .322 and has a .678 slugging percentage as he asserts himself as Toronto’s starting third baseman.