Baltimore @ Toronto preview
Rogers Centre
Last Meeting ( Jun 16, 2011 ) Baltimore 4, Toronto 3
THE STORY: The Toronto Blue Jays hope Brandon Morrow's recent success will help them regain their home dominance of the Baltimore Orioles when the teams begin a three-game series Tuesday at Rogers Centre. The Blue Jays won 16 consecutive home meetings against Baltimore dating back to Aug. 8, 2009, until the Orioles avoided a three-game sweep with a 4-3 win June 16. They'll try to start a new streak when Morrow tries for his sixth straight win.
TV: 7:07 p.m. ET, MASN2, RSN
PITCHING MATCHUP: Orioles RH Jake Arrieta (9-7, 5.02 ERA) vs. Blue Jays RH Brandon Morrow (7-4, 4.34 ERA)
The Orioles have lost all four of Arrieta's starts this month, and he has been saddled with the loss in three of them. He allowed three runs in seven innings to take the loss in a 4-0 loss to the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday, giving up two home runs for the third straight start. Arrieta is 2-1 with a 2.89 ERA in three starts against Toronto, and he has split two starts against the Blue Jays this season.
Toronto has won Morrow's last seven starts, including an 11-6 win Wednesday against the Seattle Mariners. Morrow held his former team to three runs over seven innings. He has a 2.85 ERA during that stretch and has held opponents to a .195 batting average. Morrow is 2-0 with a 4.50 ERA in three starts against Baltimore, all last year. He also has made seven relief appearances against the Orioles, pitching 7 1/3 innings without allowing a run.
ABOUT THE ORIOLES (40-58): The Orioles lost two of three to the Los Angeles Angels over the weekend and haven't won a series since taking two of three from the Cincinnati Reds from June 24-26. They're 5-18 since then and have the worst record in the American League. Adam Jones has been one of few bright spots — he has five homers and 11 RBIs in his past nine games.
ABOUT THE BLUE JAYS (51-51): Toronto had won eight of 10 before losing the first two games of its series at Texas over the weekend. The Blue Jays avoided a sweep with a 3-0 win Sunday. They have won 19 of 24 against the Orioles over the past two seasons, including four of six this year. Toronto slugger Jose Bautista is 0-for-7 against Arrieta, but Yunel Escobar is 4-for-9 with a homer against the Baltimore righty.
FINAL PITCH: The Blue Jays (7-22) and Orioles (7-23) are tied for the fewest victories in the majors in games in which they do not hit a home run.