Tillman versus Happ and a few notes

Toronto pitcher R.A. Dickey left yesterday's game at Camden Yards with a groin injury. Reliever Brett Cecil left Friday night's game with a groin injury. Orioles reliever Tommy Hunter just came off the disabled list after suffering a groin injury. Every time Chris Tillman has a poor start, he's asked whether he's bothered by a groin injury. Miguel Gonzalez didn't get the memo. An oblique injury? Did he miss a meeting? Tillman still hasn't won a game at home this season, but here's where it gets weird. He's 0-3 with a 2.51 ERA. The man has allowed eight earned runs in 28 1/3 innings and he's winless. Tillman is 4-4 with a 3.99 ERA and six quality starts in 12 career outings against the Blue Jays. Here's where it looks promising for him today. He's 2-1 with a 1.82 ERA in five home starts. Melky Cabrera is 7-for-19 (.368) with two doubles and a home run against Tillman. Jose Bautista is 7-for-22 (.318) with a double, two home runs and nine strikeouts. The Blue Jays are starting J.A. Happ, who's not to be confused with R.A. Dickey. One is left-handed and doesn't file his nails. (Do they play the "Happ" song in Toronto? Clap along if you feel like the Rogers Centre without a roof.) Adam Jones is 5-for-10 against Happ. Nick Markakis is 4-for-10, and he needs one more hit to tie Ken Singleton for sixth place on the club's all-time list with 1,455. Happ has made one appearance at Camden Yards, allowing an unearned run in six innings on April 22, 2013. The opposing pitcher that day was Tillman, who gave up one run in 6 2/3 innings. Small world. The Orioles have turned at least one double play in 11 of their last 12 games. Manny Machado has doubled in each of the last three games. He hasn't strung together that many in a row since Sept. 7-9, 2013. Machado has collected six hits in his last 11 games. Does he continue to bat second today? That's my guess. But does manager Buck Showalter put Steve Pearce or Delmon Young in the lineup against a southpaw? J.J. Hardy has gone 317 consecutive at-bats without a home run, now the longest streak by an active player with a 30-plus home run season in his career, surpassing Jacoby Ellsbury (314).