O's game blog: Orioles host Toronto in decisive game of series

When the Orioles host Toronto tonight, for the first time this year they will play a third and deciding game of a three-game series. Toronto won 4-3 on Tuesday night and the Orioles won 4-3 in 10 innings last night.

The Orioles played just a single one-run game in their first 11 games - that was a win on opening day - and now have played two in a row.

The O's team ERA is 3.76 to rank ninth in the American League. But in home team ERA the Orioles rank first with a 6-1 record at Camden Yards and 2.11 ERA. Opposing hitters are batting just .222 against O's pitchers at home.

On the mound tonight, Chris Tillman (1-1, 5.11 ERA) faces right-hander Marco Estrada (1-1, 2.77 ERA) in the series finale.

In six starts last season versus Toronto, Tillman went 0-4 with an ERA of 11.72. Over 25 1/3 innings, he gave up 40 hits and 10 homers with a WHIP of 2.01. He allowed five or more runs in each of his first five starts against the Blue Jays, but then gave up just two runs over 7 1/3 innings in his final start of the year against them. That was on Sept. 28 in Baltimore.

Estrada made six appearances and four starts versus the Orioles in 2015. He went 2-1 with a 3.42 ERA. Tonight is his third start of the year, both previously were against Boston. He pitched seven scoreless innings his first start and gave up four runs in six innings in his second one.

The Orioles begin tonight at 9-4 (.692) with the best record in the AL and lead the division by 2 1/2 games over Toronto (8-8) and three games over Tampa Bay (7-8) and Boston (7-8). The Rays beat the Red Sox 12-8 this afternoon as they got to former Rays pitcher David Price. He allowed eight runs over 3 2/3 innings against Tampa Bay and has a 7.06 ERA.

The Orioles did not homer last night, ending a run of 11 consecutive games with at least one homer. They still lead the AL with 25 homers with Houston next at 22 and Detroit third with 18. Toronto has hit 15.

The Orioles have hit 10 homers in their last four games and have seven multi-homer games so far, going 5-2 in those games.