Zach Eflin makes his Orioles debut today in Game 1 of a doubleheader against the Blue Jays at Camden Yards.
Eflin made his last Tampa Bay start against the Blue Jays in Toronto and allowed two runs in 5 2/3 innings. He also faced them May 18 at Rogers Centre and allowed four runs and nine hits in six innings. His first start in 2024 also was against the Jays, at Tropicana Field, and he surrendered six runs in 5 2/3 innings.
George Springer, Cavan Biggio and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit home runs.
Eflin owns a 5.90 ERA and 1.487 WHIP in eight career games (seven starts) against the Jays. Guerrero is 6-for-16 with a double and two home runs.
The right-hander is making his third career start at Camden Yards. He’s allowed five runs in 13 innings there.
Left-hander Cade Povich is making his eighth major league start in Game 2 as the 27th man in the doubleheader. His debut came in Toronto on June 6 and he allowed six runs in 5 1/3 innings. Guerrero hit a three-run homer in the third.
Teams are batting .310/.492/.619 against Povich when he falls behind 1-0 in the count, and .208/.240/.361 after being down 0-1.
Colton Cowser is leading off again in Game 1 and Adley Rutschman is on the bench for the second straight day.
Ryan O’Hearn is in right field with Anthony Santander serving as designated hitter. Gunnar Henderson stays in the third spot in the order.
Ryan Mountcastle is playing first base and batting cleanup.
Rutschman has hit five home runs against the Jays this season, tied for second-most by a player against any American League opponent, per STATS.
The Orioles have five players with at least 50 RBIs, more than any other team in the majors. The club also had at least five prior to August in 1996 (six), 2017 and 2016.
Rookie right-hander Yariel Rodríguez starts Game 1 for the Jays. He’s appeared in nine games and registered a 3.69 ERA and 1.256 WHIP in 39 innings with only three home runs surrendered. He’s walked 19 and struck out 42.
Rodríguez has allowed five runs this month in 22 1/3 innings. Left-handers are batting .169 with a .495 OPS this season and right-handers are batting .247 with a .797 OPS. The three home runs have been hit by right-handers.
Right-hander Bowden Francis is joining the Jays for Game 2. He’s posted a 5.82 ERA and 1.474 WHIP in 16 games (three starts).
His last start was June 9 in Oakland, where he tossed four scoreless innings. He pitched in relief against the Orioles in the previous appearance and allowed four runs and five hits in 3 1/3 innings. Mountcastle homered twice and drove in five runs against him.
Francis has made five career relief appearances against the Orioles and allowed six runs and 11 hits in nine innings.
The Orioles are 3-3 against the Jays this season. They split two games in Baltimore, with a rainout on May 14.
The Orioles have scored at least one run against Toronto in the last 53 meetings, their second-longest active streak against an opponent, per STATS. They’ve scored in 57 straight versus the Angels.
Toronto is in last place in the division, 13 games out of first place.
Bo Bichette is a career .378 hitter at Camden Yards, and Guerrero has posted a .342 average. Bichette has a hit in his last 10 games here and 23 of 24.
For the Orioles
Colton Cowser LF
Anthony Santander DH
Gunnar Henderson SS
Ryan Mountcastle 1B
Ryan O’Hearn RF
Jordan Westburg 2B
Cedric Mullins CF
Ramón Urías 3B
James McCann C
Zach Eflin RHP
Update: Manager Brandon Hyde said Rutschman will catch Game 2 and again Tuesday night.
Manager Brandon Hyde thought McCann might be a little more familiar with Eflin.
The Orioles are trying to give Rutschman the proper rest. He pinch-hit last night.
"We gave him the last day off in Miami, and then with this doubleheader today, was thinking about possibly DHing one of the games and decided not to just because going to catch tomorrow, also," Hyde said. "We're trying to keep him as fresh as we can. I communicate with him. We talk quite a bit. He usually doesn't come to me but I'll kind of tell him what I'm thinking and we have a little bit back and forth on the upcoming schedule a lot of times."
For the Blue Jays
George Springer RF
Spencer Horwitz 2B
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. DH
Justin Turner 1B
Daulton Varsho CF
Alejandro Kirk C
Davis Schneider LF
Ernie Clement 3B
Leo Jiménez SS
Yariel Rodríguez RHP
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