Baltimore @ Toronto preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 9, 2011 ) Baltimore 2, Toronto 0

THE STORY: The Baltimore Orioles get a second look at Toronto Blue Jays pitching phenom Henderson Alvarez on Saturday, even though they are still getting over the stunning result of their first encounter. Alvarez threw eight shutout innings the last time he faced Baltimore, and will look to duplicate the feat as the clubs resume their three-game set in Toronto.

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

PITCHING MATCHUP: Orioles RH Rick VandenHurk (0-0, 2.45 ERA) vs. Blue Jays RH Henderson Alvarez (1-2, 2.95).

VandenHurk makes his first start of the season, and second in an Orioles uniform after being acquired from the Florida Marlins in 2010. The Netherlands native made his first appearance of the year against Toronto on Sept. 1, throwing 1 1/3 scoreless innings in an 8-6 defeat. He is 0-1 with a 3.38 ERA in 10 1/3 career innings against the Blue Jays. If Toronto is indeed using the end of the season to evaluate candidates for next year's starting rotation, Alvarez has likely made the biggest impression. The 21-year-old has thrown 15 scoreless innings spanning two-plus starts, and walked only one batter over that span. He limited the Red Sox to four hits over six sensational innings in his last outing.

ABOUT THE ORIOLES (58-85): VandenHurk likely isn't in the Orioles' long-term plans, at least where the club's starting rotation is concerned. The 26-year-old will likely be used to eat some innings down the stretch as the Orioles play out the string. VandenHurk was mostly unimpressive in the minors this season, going 9-13 with a 4.43 ERA in 26 starts with Baltimore's Triple A affiliate in Norfolk. He has a difficult act to follow after Jeremy Guthrie and two relievers combined on a three-hit shutout in Friday's series opener. It was the seventh shutout of the season by the Orioles, who have been blanked on seven occasions themselves.

ABOUT THE BLUE JAYS (72-73): Toronto received a bit of good news prior to Friday's defeat as the club continues to wrangle with the .500 mark. Center fielder Colby Rasmus will begin a minor-league rehabilitation assignment Saturday with the Blue Jays' Double A affiliate in New Hampshire. Rasmus, who has been out since Aug. 23 with a wrist injury, will serve as the club's designated hitter in the first game before switching to the outfield Sunday. If all goes well, Rasmus should rejoin team in Boston on Tuesday. Friday saw the return of Kyle Drabek, who pitched in the ninth inning in his first major-league action since being demoted to the minors in June.

FINAL PITCH: VandenHurk is one of only eight Dutch-born players to reach the major leagues. The list includes recent Hall of Fame inductee Bert Blyleven and Seattle Mariners backup outfielder Greg Halman.