O's game blog: O's and Blue Jays battle for a spot in the ALDS

TORONTO - After they've played 19 times this year in the regular season, the Orioles and Toronto Blue Jays play one more time and the stakes are higher.

It's the American League wild card game and the winner will advance to face the AL's No. 1 seed, the Texas Rangers, in the American League Division Series beginning Thursday in Arlington, Texas.

The Orioles went 9-10 against Toronto in the regular season, including a 4-6 mark at Rogers Centre. But they pitched better and won more games here as the season went on. The Orioles won a series in Toronto just last week and went 3-1 in their last four games at Rogers Centre.

Tonight marks the 13th postseason appearance for the Orioles and second appearance in the American League wild card game. They beat the Texas Rangers 5-1 in 2012. The Orioles own a 52-39 (.571) all-time postseason record and have advanced to the World Series six times with three championships in 1966, 1970 and 1983.

Right-hander Chris Tillman (16-6, 3.77 ERA) gets the start tonight and will face Blue Jays right-hander Marcus Stroman (9-10, 4.37 ERA).

While Tillman has just a 5-10 record and 5.44 career ERA versus Toronto and a career ERA of 7.01 at Rogers Centre, he did pitch well against the Blue Jays this season. He went 1-0 with an ERA of 3.63 in four starts and the Orioles won all four games. He gave up four runs (three earned) in 11 1/3 innings in two starts in Toronto.

When pitching this season versus the AL East, Tillman went 7-1 with a 3.49 ERA and the Orioles were 12-2 in those starts. The Orioles went 22-8 in Tillman's 30 starts in 2016.

In two career postseason starts, Tillman is 1-0 with a 6.75 ERA. He started Game 1 of the ALDS against Detroit and ALCS versus Kansas City two years ago.

Stroman was the losing pitcher last Thursday against Ubaldo Jimenez and the Orioles by a 4-0 score. Over seven innings he allowed nine hits and four runs. In 16 home starts he is 4-3 with a 4.59 ERA. In three career playoff starts, he is 1-0 with a 4.19 ERA and 1.345 WHIP.

Adam Jones is 6-for-15 in his career against Stroman and 4-for-12 with a home run this year. Hyun Soo Kim went 3-for-7 this season while Chris Davis went 4-for-10 and Matt Wieters went 5-for-12. Mark Trumbo went 5-for-11 with two doubles.

The Blue Jays went 14-18 in Stroman's 32 starts this year, going 1-5 in his last six games. The 25-year-old allows a batting average of .268 versus lefty batters and .260 against right-handed hitters.