Opposite dugout: Blue Jays hitting their stride as summer nears

Manager: John Gibbons (9th season)

Record: 38-31

Last 10 games: 7-3

Who to watch: LF Michael Saunders (.307, 67 hits), 3B Josh Donaldson (.276, 16 HR, 43 RBIs), DH Edwin Encarnacion (18 HR, 61 RBIs), RHP Aaron Sanchez (6-1, 3.38 ERA), RHP Marcus Stroman (6-2, 4.76 ERA), RHP Roberto Osuna (1.84 ERA, 13 saves)

Season series vs. Orioles: 4-3

Pitching probables:

June 17: RHP Aaron Sanchez vs. RHP Mike Wright, 7:05 p.m., MASN
June 18: RHP R.A. Dickey vs. RHP Yovani Gallardo, 4:05 p.m., MASN
June 19: RHP Marcus Stroman vs. RHP Chris Tillman, 1:35 p.m., MASN

Inside the Blue Jays:

Expectations were high for the Blue Jays heading into 2016. The team was coming off of its first division crown and postseason appearance since the Clinton administration and was returning the nucleus of players who got them within two games of an American League pennant.

Still, in today's game, the notion of "winning the offseason" by throwing a lot of money at available free agents has met with mixed success over the past few seasons. Toronto, though, seemed to be one of the fortunate ones. Flash forward to 2016, and the Blue Jays spent the first six weeks of the season trying to get things in order on the field. They hovered at or below the .500 mark for the majority of spring, working to repeat their magical season from a year ago.

Yet as the Blue Jays head to Camden Yards for a three-game series against the Orioles, it seems the boys from up north have hit their stride. Since a disheartening five-game losing streak in mid-May to put the team at 19-23, the Blue Jays have gone 19-8 over their last 27 games, bringing their record to seven games over .500 and only two games behind the Orioles for first place in the division.

The offense packs plenty of power, the majority of which comes from its usual suspects. The power duo of Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion have combined for 30 home runs and more than 240 total bases, despite neither of them hitting above .260. Reigning AL MVP Josh Donaldson is showing his award was no fluke, either. The third baseman is batting .276 and is second on the team in both home runs (16) and RBIs (43). Outfielder Kevin Pillar might not be the household name like his trio of teammates mentioned above, but he's tied with Donaldson for the team lead in hits with 69 and is one of the game's best fielders. He's also started 16 career games at Camden Yards, so the Orioles will have to make sure any balls hit into the stands pack quite a bit of power, or else risk Pillar reaching over the outfield wall to break a few hearts.

From a pitching standpoint, the Blue Jays find themselves near the top of the league in most categories. Led by starter J.A. Happ, who won his eighth game of the season Thursday against the Phillies, the Blue Jays rank seventh in the majors in team ERA at 3.78, but that number is tops in the AL East. Meanwhile, Happ, along with starters Marco Estrada and Aaron Sanchez, all sport ERAs under 4.00, while Sanchez leads the way with 83 strikeouts on the year. Sanchez will start the series opener on Friday, followed by knuckleballer R.A. Dickey and right-hander Marcus Stroman in Sunday's series finale.

If there's still an area where the Blue Jays are figuring things out, it's in the bullpen. Relievers Drew Storen and Maryland native Gavin Floyd are right-handed options for manager John Gibbons, but each has battled through their share of struggles this season. Southpaw and fellow Maryland native Brett Cecil was battling his own issues, sporting a lackluster 5.23 ERA in 16 appearances, but he's currently on the disabled list with a left triceps strain. If it's any consolation, however, the Blue Jays have a formidable closer in Roberto Osuna. The 21-year-old right-hander has 13 saves on the year and boasts a 1.84 ERA.

In short, the Blue Jays got off to a slow start in 2016, leaving many fans and media pundits to simply cast them aside and label them just another one-year wonder. But as the dog days of summer get closer, it's clear the powerful offensive attack and solid pitching staff that led the team to 93 wins one year ago hasn't gone anywhere, and they're looking to finish what they started in 2015.