Miley vs. Estrada tonight at Camden Yards

It doesn't get any easier for the Orioles. The stretch run can pull a team apart at the seams.

Winning yesterday to avoid a sweep in the Bronx, the Orioles return home to face the Blue Jays in a crucial three-game series. They remain in third place in the American League East, one game behind the second-place Red Sox and three behind Toronto.

Being swept at Camden Yards wouldn't destroy their season, but the dent would be noticeable.

Complicating matters is tonight's opposing pitcher, right-hander Marco Estrada, who's 7-6 with a 3.47 ERA in 22 starts.

Estrada is allowing only 6.7 hits per nine innings, the lowest in the league and matching last year's total. Left-handers are batting .196 against him and right-handers are batting .206. He's posted a 3.30 ERA in 12 home starts and a 3.68 ERA in 10 road starts.

How do you gain an advantage on this guy?

Estrada is 3-1 with a 3.53 ERA in nine career appearances (seven starts) against the Orioles and 0-1 with a 3.93 ERA in four appearances (three starts) at Camden Yards. The current group is batting only .199 against him, led by utility infielder Ryan Flaherty, who's 3-for-9 with two home runs.

Jonathan Schoop is 4-for-14 with two home runs and six strikeouts. Adam Jones is 1-for-15, Manny Machado is 2-for-15 with a home run, J.J. Hardy is 1-for-12 and Chris Davis is 2-for-13 with two home runs.

Estrada has made three starts against the Orioles this season and allowed eight runs (seven earned) and 15 hits with 23 strikeouts over 17 innings.

Maybe the Orioles can take some comfort in knowing that Estrada has surrendered 11 earned runs and 15 hits - including five home runs - in nine innings over his last two starts. In his last three starts, he's allowed 14 runs (13 earned) and 22 hits over 14 innings.

The Orioles are waiting for the proper return on their trade for left-hander Wade Miley, who's 1-2 with an 8.18 ERA and 1.864 WHIP in five starts. He's allowed 21 runs (20 earned) and 35 hits in 22 innings.

Miley held the Blue Jays to two runs over six innings in a July 24 start in Toronto. However, he's 1-3 with a 6.04 ERA and 1.855 WHIP in five career starts against them.

Edwin Encarnacion is 5-for-9 with two doubles and two home runs against Miley. Troy Tulowitzki is 7-for-19 with two doubles and a home run.

Melvin Upton Jr. is 1-for-11.