The Toronto Blue Jays (81-63), one of the most productive offenses in the AL, are set to host the Baltimore Orioles (75-67) at Rogers Centre on Friday to open a three-game series. The Orioles are coming off a two-game sweep of the Nationals, taking the finale 6-2 on Wednesday at Nationals Park. Gunnar Henderson was 2 for 4 with a triple and a double. He scored one run and drove in four. Cedric Mullins added two runs on two hits. The Blue Jays are in the midst of an eight-game homestand. They won three of five against the Rays in their last series, dropping the finale 11-0 on Thursday at Rogers Centre. Bo Bichette’s on-base streak hit 15 as he went 2 for 4 with a double.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
The Orioles have won seven of 13 in the season series between the AL East rivals, although they suffered a 4-1 defeat in their last meeting on September 7 at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Starter Alek Manoah went eight innings, allowing one run on three hits, to get the win, and Jordan Romano picked up his 31st save with a scoreless ninth.
ON THE MOUND
Jordan Lyles (10-10, 4.45 ERA) is slated to get the start for Baltimore. The RHP allowed eight runs over 3.2 innings in his last start, a 17-4 road defeat against the Red Sox on Saturday. He took the loss, scattering seven hits while striking out one and walking one. Over two previous starts against the Blue Jays this season, Lyles has allowed six earned runs over 11 innings (2-0, 4.91). He has struck out eight and walked four.
AT THE PLATE
The Baltimore offense is averaging 4.2 runs per game for the season, with a slash line of .236/.304/.390. Anthony Santander leads the team in OPS at .784. The right fielder is slashing .251/.329/.455 with 27 home runs, 79 RBIs, and 68 runs over 134 games. Toronto is slashing .262/.327/.427 for the season and averaging 4.7 runs per game, second best in the AL. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. leads the team with a .827 OPS. The first baseman has 28 home runs, 84 RBIs, and 81 runs scored with a slash line of .278/.342/.485. Toronto is averaging only 3.4 runs per game in the last five with their slash line slipping across the board (.244/.284/.356). The Jays have a .757 OPS against righties in 2022, second highest in the league. With a .849 OPS over 464 at-bats, Guerrero Jr. also has been their best hitter against right-handers.
HOME AND AWAY
Baltimore is on a four-game winning streak away from Oriole Park at Camden Yards, bringing their record to 34-37 in 2022. The O’s have scored 4.1 runs per game away from home, while allowing 4.2 runs. Toronto has gone 41-31 at Rogers Centre this season, averaging 4.3 runs per game while surrendering 4.5. Toronto is 6-4 in the last 10 meetings at Rogers Centre with an average scoreline of 6.4-4.4.
STANDINGS UPDATE
The Orioles are fourth in the AL East, 11 games behind the division-leading Yankees. They are fourth in the Wild Card race, four games out of third. The Blue Jays are second in the AL East, six games behind the Yankees. They currently occupy one of the Wild Card spots, sitting first.
SportsTips’ MLB Pick:
Toronto Blue Jays
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
