O's game blog: Miguel Gonzalez on mound in opener of doubleheader

In the opening game of today's doubleheader, right-hander Miguel Gonzalez returns to the Orioles active roster, coming off the disabled list for the second time to make the start against Toronto.

The Blue Jays have won five in a row, 12 of their last 17 games, and are 91-65 overall. They are closing in on the American League East championship with a magic number of one to eliminate the Yankees.

Gonzalez is 9-11 with an ERA of 4.85 in 25 starts. His last start was Aug. 30 when he gave up four runs in 5 1/3 innings against Texas. He first went to the DL in June with a right groin strain. He went back on the DL on Sept. 4, retroactive to Aug. 31, with right shoulder tendinitis.

Gonzalez ranks 21st on the all-time strikeout list for Mexican-born pitchers with 414 strikeouts. He trails right-hander Vicente Romo (416 strikeouts) for 20th on the list. Over 100 career games (94 starts) in four seassons, he is 39-32 with a 3.79 ERA.

While the O's pitching staff has an ERA of 6.00 in going 6-10 against Toronto this season, Gonzalez made a start versus the Blue Jays and did not allow an earned run in his only outing against them. On May 13 at Camden Yards, he gave up just three hits and one unearned run in 7 2/3 innings, throwing 101 pitches.

In 12 career games (11 starts) against Toronto, he is 7-2 with a 2.36 ERA. Over his last six starts against them, Gonzalez is 5-0 with an ERA of 0.98.

Right-hander Marcus Stroman is Toronto's starter. When he suffered a torn left ACL in spring training on March 10, he was said to be out for the season. Well, he returned sooner than that. He is 3-0 with a 1.89 ERA in two starts against the Yankees and one versus the Red Sox. He gave up three runs in his first start. Over his past two, he has allowed one run over 14 innings. Toronto's first-round pick (No. 22 overall) in 2012, Stroman went 11-6 with a 3.65 ERA in 26 games and 20 starts last season.

The Orioles have been outscored 98-86 in the season series against Toronto but have out-homered the Jays 23-20. Toronto is 38-14 since Aug. 1 and is 9-2-1 in its last 12 series since mid-August.

At 76-80, the Orioles would finish at .500 if they go 5-1 the rest of the way. They need to finish 6-0 for a winning record for the fourth year in a row. Anything less than 5-1, and they will have their first losing season since going 69-93 in 2011.

The Orioles will play their third doubleheader of the season today. They split a twinbill with the White Sox on May 28 and swept the Indians on June 28, both at Camden Yards. Since the team moved to Baltimore in 1954, the Orioles are 168-141-286 (sweep-swept-split) in doubleheaders, according to STATS. Against the Blue Jays, the O's are 8-3-3 in doubleheaders.

In today's second game, right-hander Kevin Gausman (3-7, 4.49 ERA) pitches against right-hander R.A. Dickey (11-11, 4.00). Gausman has allowed nine runs in 11 innings his past two starts. At home this year, he is 2-1 with a 2.38 ERA. Dickey is 8-1 with a 2.95 ERA in 14 starts since the All-Star break. He is 2-6 with a 4.20 ERA in 13 career games versus the Orioles.