Orioles lineup for series opener at Toronto

TORONTO - The Orioles begin a three-game series tonight at Toronto as their 10-game road trip continues at Rogers Centre. They went 2-2 at Cleveland, winning the final two games of that series on Saturday and Sunday. 

The Orioles scored 16 runs on 30 hits in taking the final two games at Progressive Field. In going 7-5 the last 12 games, the Orioles have scored 6.4 runs per game while batting .291 as a team with 24 doubles, four triples, 17 homers and an .859 club OPS in that span. The Orioles are averaging 6.0 runs per game since the All-Star break, going 9-8, the fourth-best mark in the major leagues. They have a .361 OBP, third in the majors, in that span. 

Right-hander Grayson Rodriguez (13-4, 3.86 ERA) gets the start for the Orioles in the series opener, coming off a home win versus Toronto. Last Wednesday in Baltimore he allowed four runs (three earned) in six innings to the Blue Jays. In seven starts this season against American League East clubs, Rodriguez is 4-2 with a 3.98 ERA.

The O's begin play tonight once again tied for first with the Yankees, with both clubs at 67-46. The Orioles are 23-10 in 2024 versus AL East clubs, including a 6-4 mark against Toronto. They are 3-0-1 in four AL East road series, going 11-3 in those 14 games.

Toronto (51-61) has lost four of its last five games and is 7-9 since the All-Star break and 26-28 at home this season. 

The Blue Jays' starter is right-hander Chris Bassitt (8-10, 4.02 ERA). He is making his 23rd start. In five July starts he posted a 7.01 ERA. In seven career starts against the Orioles, Bassitt is 3-3 with a 5.45 ERA. 

The Orioles have won or tied all seven series against the Blue Jays since the start of last season (5-0-2 series record). That ties Baltimore’s longest streak of series without a loss against Toronto all-time (also won/tied seven straight series between 1980 and 1982).

Gunnar Henderson has started out of the three hole in his last eight games, hitting .406 with a homer, a triple and two doubles. Since the start of 2023, Henderson has a 1.141 OPS from the third spot in the lineup, second best in the bigs (minimum 60 plate appearances) behind Aaron Judge (1.145).

For the Orioles

Colton Cowser CF
Anthon Santander RF
Gunnar Henderson SS
Ryan O'Hearn LF
Adley Rutschman C
Ryan Mountcastle 1B
Eloy Jiménez DH
Jackson Holliday 2B
Ramón Urías 3B

For the Blue Jays

George Springer RF
Joey Loperfido LF
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. 1B
Spencer Horwitz DH
Alejandro Kirk C
Daulton Varsho CF
Ernie Clement SS
Addison Barger 3B
Leo Jiménez 2B