O's game blog: It's Jimenez against Stroman in series finale

TORONTO - After last night's dramatic comeback win, the Orioles can win this series and tie the Blue Jays for the first American League wild card with a victory tonight at Rogers Centre.

While the Orioles have won four of their last five games, they have scored just 15 runs in those games and they've managed to win several low-scoring games while waiting for their offense to come around. There isn't much time left to do that - four games in fact.

Over the last 11 games, the Orioles have scored just 27 runs, coming up with three runs or fewer 10 times and two runs or less seven times. The Orioles are batting just .119 (8-for-67) with runners in scoring position in that stretch. They've scored just four runs in this series and are 3-for-18 with RISP.

So yes, despite some recent wins, the Orioles offense is due.

The pitchers on the other hand have recorded a team ERA of 1.72 over the last five games. The Orioles bullpen has thrown 15 2/3 scoreless innings in that stretch and held Blue Jays hitters to 0-for-10 last night. Over the last 15 games, the Orioles bullpen has recorded a 0.67 ERA.

Tonight's pitching matchup features right-handers Ubaldo Jimenez (7-12, 5.71 ERA) and the Blue Jays' Marcus Stroman (9-9, 4.34 ERA).

In six starts since Aug. 25, Jimenez is 2-2 with an ERA of 2.85 and five quality starts. The Orioles are 4-2 in those games and 12-12 in his 24 starts for the season.

Jimenez has made four appearances (three starts) against Toronto on the year, going 0-1 with a 9.42 ERA. But he threw well in his last start against them, allowing three runs over 6 2/3 innings on Aug. 30. But in his only start in this ballpark this year, he lasted just 1/3 of an inning on June 12, allowing six hits and five runs.

In 17 career games (15 starts) versus Toronto, he is 6-5 with a 4.84 ERA. In six career games (five starts) at Rogers Centre, Jimenez is 1-3 with an 8.41 ERA, allowing five homers in 20 1/3 innings.

Stroman is coming off a start Saturday versus the Yankees where he pitched seven scoreless innings and gave up just one hit on 97 pitches. In five September starts, he is 0-4 with an ERA of 3.00.

In three 2016 starts against the Orioles, he is 1-1 with a 7.88 ERA, allowing 24 hits and four homers over 16 innings. In six career games (five starts) against Baltimore, Stroman is 2-2 with a 5.29 ERA, allowing six homers over 34 innings.

Tonight is the final game of the Orioles-Blue Jays season series, which Toronto leads 10-8. The Orioles went 5-4 at home against the Jays and are 3-6 at Rogers Centre.