Orioles won't face Jesse Chavez in Friday's series opener

The Athletics will send a new starter to the mound for Friday's series opener against the Orioles at Camden Yards.

Sonny Gray was scratched from today's start against the Blue Jays due to back spasms, but he could be plugged into the rotation this weekend. In the meantime, Jesse Chavez has been bumped up from Friday to today.

Chavez was supposed to oppose Ubaldo Jimenez, but he's needed today at Rogers Centre. Gray could take Chavez's place against the Orioles if his back improves.

Another possibility is Brad Mills, who's scheduled to start Friday for the Athletics' Triple-A affiliate in Nashville. He's 4-11 with a 4.45 ERA in 22 starts with the Sounds.

Mills is 3-0 with a 1.56 ERA in three career starts against the Orioles, with three runs allowed in 17 1/3 innings.

Chavez is 0-1 with a 9.58 ERA in five career games (one start) against the Orioles, with 11 earned runs (12 total) and 18 hits in 10 1/3 innings. That's not a fair trade.

Gray is 12-4 with a 2.06 ERA and two shutouts in 23 starts this season. The Orioles missed him in the three-game series in Oakland.

Gray is 1-2 with a 7.04 ERA in three career starts against the Orioles, with 12 earned runs (13 total) in 15 1/3 innings, and 0-2 with a 11.42 ERA in two starts at Camden Yards, with 11 runs in 8 2/3 innings.

The current starters for the four-game series include Miguel Gonzalez vs. Chris Bassitt on Saturday, Wei-Yin Chen vs. Kendall Graveman on Sunday and Chris Tillman vs. Aaron Brooks on Monday.

Brooks was charged with eight runs yesterday in 1 2/3 innings in a 10-3 loss to the Blue Jays.

Meanwhile, the online betting site Bovada is listing the Orioles at 40/1 to win the World Series. The Blue Jays are now the favorites at 4/1.