O's game blog: It's Gausman against Estrada in Toronto series opener

TORONTO - The Orioles and Toronto Blue Jays open an important weekend series tonight at Rogers Centre. As the series begins the Orioles (58-43) hold first place in the American League East by 1 1/2 games over the second-place Blue Jays (57-45).

The Orioles are looking to improve on a 21-27 road record and a mark of 4-9 since the start of last season in this ballpark, where they have lost five of their past six games.

The teams played a wild four-game series here last month where the Orioles won the first game but lost the last three. The Orioles scored 24 runs in that series, but gave up 30. They hit 12 homers in that series, hitting two in the first and second games, three in the third and five in the series finale, which they lost 10-9.

The clubs have split 10 games on the year, with the Orioles going 4-2 at home versus Toronto. The Blue Jays have scored 60 runs in those 10 games to 52 for the Orioles.

On the mound tonight, it's Kevin Gausman (2-7, 3.77 ERA) pitching against right-hander Marco Estrada (5-4, 2.94 ERA).

Gausman pitched seven scoreless innings on 116 pitches in his last start against Cleveland at Camden Yards. He has recorded four quality starts in his past five outings, going 2-2 with an ERA of 2.51.

Gausman allows a batting average of .231 versus left-handed batters and .295 versus right-handed batters. In 10 road starts he is 0-6 with an ERA of 4.94. He produced a quality start in a start at Rogers Centre on June 10. He went 6 1/3 innings, allowing eight hits and three runs (two earned). In 10 career games and five starts versus Toronto, he is 2-1 with an ERA of 3.00.

Estrada ranks third in the American League among qualified starters in ERA and first in opponent batting average against at .179. He has allowed just 71 hits in 110 1/3 innings. He has started twice this year versus the Orioles and is 0-0 with a 3.27 ERA, allowing 10 hits and four runs over 11 innings. In eight career games (six starts) versus Baltimore, he is 2-1 with a 3.38 ERA.

Estrada has recorded nine quality starts over his past 10 outings. In nine starts at Rogers Centre, he is 2-3 with a 2.50 ERA.

The Orioles' Chris Davis is hitting .340 (53-for-156) with 17 home runs, 15 doubles, and 40 RBIs in 44 career games at Rogers Centre. His 17 home runs at Rogers Centre are the most he has hit as a visitor.