Ryan Mountcastle on the big series with Toronto

As the Orioles begin their huge four-game series with the Toronto Blue Jays this afternoon with a doubleheader, they do so with the knowledge that they have played so much better this year against Toronto.

The Orioles went 5-14 versus the Blue Jays last year and their team ERA was 8.49. Toronto scored 153 runs in those 19 games. This season the Orioles are 6-3 versus Toronto, winning two series and splitting another. The team ERA is 5.01, with 45 runs allowed in the nine games.

“We’ve just pitched them better,” the O’s Ryan Mountcastle said in the clubhouse this morning in sizing up the team’s better play this year in the season series. “I think we put up a decent amount of runs last year against them. They have an insane lineup - top three in baseball, probably - and it was just keeping them in the yard, and I feel like we’ve done a pretty good job of that this year."

The Orioles may have to win some higher-scoring games in this series, and have won games this year against Toronto by scores of 6-5, 7-4 and 6-5.

“They have a great offense and we are going to have to just outscore them," Mountcastle said. "Score some runs, and we've got to have some good approaches today, and hopefully we get a couple today."

The Blue Jays are a team Mountcastle continues to hit well. In the nine games this year, he is batting .351 with a 1.265 OPS against Toronto pitching, and he's got four doubles, five homers and 12 RBIs. In 34 career games against the Jays, he has 14 homers, 28 RBIs and a 1.089 OPS. 

It's a big series, yes, but Mountcastle said today felt like any other day this year inside the Baltimore clubhouse. Nothing too different.

“Not really," he said. "I know it is a big series, but we are going go out and play like we normally do. I’m excited to play these guys and, hopefully, get some wins."

And the young Orioles continue to pad their resumes with some big-game experience.

“For sure," Mountcastle said. "It’s a lot different than last year. Then, it was just counting down the days and trying to finish strong. This year every day matters and we’re excited to come to the field every day. Long way to go, and hopefully we finish this out strong."

Mountcastle is swinging it a bit better in recent games, going 5-for-15 the last four days, with three homers and six RBIs.

"Just (gaining) confidence," he said. "Once you get a couple of hits, it goes a long way, so just feel more relaxed and seeing the ball better."