O's game blog: Chris Tillman on mound as O's look to avoid sweep

TORONTO - The Orioles will look to break a five-game losing streak overall and a five-game losing streak at Rogers Centre this afternoon as they play the series finale against the Blue Jays.

After losing back-to-back games by 6-5 and 9-1 scores, the Orioles have fallen to second place in the American League East, a half-game behind Toronto. They could reclaim the top spot in the division with a win today.

According to STATS, LLC., the Orioles have spent 99 of 119 days this season alone in or tied for first place. Before yesterday, they had not been in second since residing there for two days on July 20-21.

While O's starting pitchers Kevin Gausman and Yovani Gallardo have combined to allow 11 runs in 7 1/3 innings this weekend, the O's batters need to pick up the pace, too. They've scored six runs on 12 hits in the series, going 2-for-10 with runners in scoring position.

The Orioles are 5-7 this year versus Toronto, going 4-2 at home and 1-5 on the road. Each team has hit 20 homers in the season series, where Toronto has outscored the Birds 75-58. The O's team ERA is 6.26 in the 12 games.

Today, right-hander Chris Tillman (14-3, 3.47 ERA) pitches against AL ERA leader Aaron Sanchez (11-1, 2.72 ERA).

Tillman gave up nine hits and six runs over five innings Tuesday at home versus Colorado. He was 4-0 with a 1.29 ERA in his previous four starts. The Orioles are 18-4 in his 22 starts this season and they are 10-0 when he has started against an AL East opponent.

Last year, Tillman got torched by the Blue Jays, when he went 0-4 with an ERA of 11.72. In two starts this year he is 1-0 with a 4.91 ERA. In 22 career starts versus the Blue Jays, he is 5-10 with a 5.71 ERA.

Sanchez has had a strong year and has permitted just one run in 14 innings over his past two starts. In his last seven starts, he is 5-0 with a 1.53 ERA. This stretch follows his June 12 start at Rogers Centre, where the Orioles got to him for 10 hits and six runs on four homers. That tied his season high for runs allowed and is his season high for homers allowed. In fact, he has not allowed more than one home run in any other start, giving up six in his other 19 starts.

Since the Orioles hit four homers off Sanchez that Sunday afternoon last month, he has given up two over his past seven starts and 47 innings. In nine home starts, he is 4-1 with a 3.56 ERA. In two starts this season versus Baltimore, he is 2-0 with a 5.73 ERA.