Opposite dugout: Toronto has power aplenty, but will look to improve at trade deadline

Manager: John Gibbons (9th season)

Record: 57-45

Last 10 games: 6-4

Who to watch: 3B Josh Donaldson (.301/.411/.589 with 25 HR, 74 RBIs), LF Michael Saunders (19 HR, 46 RBIs), DH Edwin Encarnacion (27 HR, 87 RBIs), RHP Aaron Sanchez (11-1, 2.72 ERA), LHP J.A. Happ (13-3, 3.27 ERA), RHP Roberto Osuna (21 saves, 1.99 ERA)

Season series vs. Orioles: 5-4

Pitching probables:

July 29: RHP Kevin Gausman vs. RHP Marco Estrada, 7:07 p.m., MASN
July 30: RHP Yovani Gallardo vs. LHP J.A. Happ, 1:07 p.m., MASN
July 31: RHP Chris Tillman vs. RHP Aaron Sanchez, 1:07 p.m., MASN

Inside the Blue Jays:

With the Red Sox beset by crippling injuries and frustrating inconsistency, the Blue Jays may be the biggest threat to the Orioles capturing their second American League East title in three seasons. And now that we're almost to the Aug. 1 non-waiver trading deadline, it'll be interesting to see how the guys from north of the border bulk up for the stretch run under first-year general manager Ross Atkins. Last year, you'll recall, the Blue Jays' deadline deals for players like left-hander David Price, shortstop Troy Tulowitzki, and relievers LaTroy Hawkins and Mark Lowe tilted the East in Toronto's favor. The Jays are getting healthy at a good time - slugger Jose Bautista is back from a bout with turf toe - and the Canadian fans are looking for big moves. Atkins has already acquired outfielder Melvin Upton Jr. from the Padres, and the Blue Jays seem to be linked to most of the key players who could change uniforms by Monday. Stay tuned.

A seven-game winning streak earlier this month vaulted the Blue Jays back into contention and the offense seems to be humming behind third baseman Josh Donaldson and designated hitter Edwin Encarnacion. Donaldson, whose average was .245 on June 7, has bumped that mark to .301 on the strength of a .333/.451/.631 July during which he's got six homers and 21 RBIs. Encarnacion has reached base safely in 16 of 20 July games and leads the Jays with 27 homers and 87 RBIs. Now that he's back in the lineup, Bautista has been batting leadoff, and he's amassed 25 homers and 84 RBIs in 125 career games against the Orioles. Tulowitzki is in the midst of a .317/.348/.500 July binge with four homers and 17 RBIs. Left Fielder Michael Saunders has torched the O's for a .475/.511/1.000 slash line this season, including five homers and 12 RBIs. Toronto's 144 homers are second to the Orioles in the majors.

Right-hander Marco Estrada starts the opener for the Blue Jays, his second outing after coming off the disabled list following a back problem. In his last start, Estrada took the loss despite working six innings and allowing two runs on seven hits. But he didn't yield a homer, halting a stretch of six straight games in which an opponent had gone deep off him. Estrada is 0-2 over his last four starts after going 4-0 in his previous nine. In eight career games (six starts) against the Orioles, he's 2-1 with a 3.38 ERA. Lefty J.A. Happ, Saturday afternoon's starter, has won seven straight decisions since his last loss on June 6, and is coming off six one-hit innings in a 2-0 win over the Mariners on July 24. Early in the season, Happ was pitching into the seventh inning with regularity; he's hit that mark once in his past six starts. He beat the O's on June 11 in Baltimore, and is 3-3 with a 3.76 ERA in 10 games (nine starts) lifetime against the Orioles. Back in spring training, there was chatter that Aaron Sanchez might be better suited to the bullpen. Good thing the Blue Jays took a shot with him in the rotation, since he currently leads qualified AL starting pitchers with a 9.17 win percentage and a 2.72 ERA. Sanchez is 11-1 and has gone 10-0 in his past 16 starts. He's 4-1 with a 3.56 at Rogers Centre, and 3-2 with a 5.34 ERA in 10 games (five starts) against the Orioles.

It's a good bet that the Blue Jays seek to bolster their bullpen at the trade deadline. Closer Roberto Osuna has saved 21 games in 23 tries, posting a 1.99 ERA and 0.86 WHIP. Getting to Osuna has been the issue, and Toronto just dealt Drew Storen to Seattle for Joaquin Benoit in a swap of underachieving right-handed relievers. Righty Joe Biagini has been the most effective bridge, working to a 2.48 ERA in 36 outings covering 40 innings and has yet to allow a home run. Toronto's bullpen has gone 12-21 with a 4.10 ERA pitching a major league-low 278 2/3 innings.