O's game blog: Blue Jays look for sweep in series finale

Four of the five series between the Orioles and Toronto Blue Jays this season have ended in a sweep. It will be five of six if Toronto wins tonight at Oriole Park to complete another three-game sweep.

The Blue Jays have dominated the season series this year, going 14-4 against the Orioles. This included a 10-0 mark at Rogers Centre, where Toronto had two sweeps of three games and one of four games. The Orioles swept the Blue Jays in three straight Aug. 27-29 in Baltimore, scoring 29 runs. But Toronto has won the first games this time by 5-0 and 6-4 scores. Toronto is going for its sixth sweep of a series of three or more games tonight; if they get it, four of the six would have come versus the Orioles.

Toronto's 14 wins against Baltimore are eight more than the Jays have against any other opponent. They have only twice won more than 14 games in a season series versus the Orioles, going 15-4 in 2002 and 15-3 in 2010.

Kendrys Morales has gone 16-for-51 (.314) with five homers and eight RBIs in 14 games versus the O's this year, including seven multi-hit efforts. Kevin Pillar is batting .408 (20-for-49) with four doubles, four homers and 10 RBIs in 13 games. Aledmys Díaz is 22-for-63 (.349) with four doubles, four home runs and six RBIs over his 17 games against the Orioles.

The Orioles' DJ Stewart recorded his first career hit on Tuesday night. It was a single, but he circled the bases and scored on the same play due to two errors. Stewart also stole his first career base in the sixth inning and finished the night having reached base safely in three of his four plate appearances.

Right-hander Dylan Bundy recorded the Orioles' 61st quality start of the season last night. The 61 quality starts rank seventh in the American League and are tied for 17th in the majors. Right-hander Alex Cobb leads the club with 15.

On the mound tonight, right-hander Jimmy Yacabonis (0-2, 7.22 ERA) will make his 10th appearance and fifth start for Baltimore. He last pitched in relief Thursday against the White Sox and gave up four runs over three innings.

In his four starts only, Yacabonis is 0-2 with a 7.41 ERA, allowing 22 hits and five homers over 17 innings. Yacabonis made his last start at Camden Yards on Aug. 25 versus the Yankees, allowing six runs in 3 1/3.

Right-hander Marco Estrada (7-12, 5.75 ERA) will make his 27th start for the Blue Jays. Over his last four starts, he is 0-3 with a 12.60 ERA, allowing five homers among 26 hits in 15 innings. In three 2018 starts against the Orioles, he is 2-1 with a 5.28 ERA. In 18 career games, he is 9-2 with a 3.55 ERA, 1.183 WHIP and has averaged 9.2 strikeouts per nine innings against Baltimore batters.