Wright getting another chance to make it right

Mike Wright gets another chance today to impress the Blue Jays and his manager.

The first attempt at Rogers Centre didn't go according to plan, but opportunity knocks again.

Wright was activated from the disabled list yesterday after making two rehab starts at Triple-A Norfolk. He tossed six scoreless innings on Tuesday, which puts him on short rest today. However, he threw only 65 pitches.

Wright was charged with four runs in 1 1/3 innings on June 19 in Toronto, the last one scoring on Tyler Wilson's bases-loaded walk after he entered in relief. Wright issued four walks and hit a batter, and he was done after 48 pitches, only 22 for strikes.

Wilson, who starts Sunday for Norfolk after coming off the minor league disabled list, held the Blue Jays to one run over 5 2/3 innings. Tommy Hunter followed him to the mound.

A lot has changed since that day. Chris Parmelee was the right fielder, and David Lough started in center field before Delmon Young pinch-hit for him. Nolan Reimold pinch-hit for Ryan Flaherty.

Wright retired the first two batters of the game, inducing a fly ball from Jose Reyes and striking out Josh Donaldson. But he hit Jose Bautista - it seems to happen in every game between these teams - Edwin Encarnacion and Justin Smoak delivered RBI doubles and Chris Colabello walked before Dioner Navarro flied to left field.

Kevin Pillar flied to right field leading off the second, but Wright didn't record another out. He walked Ryan Goins, Reyes singled and Donaldson and Bautista walked to force in a run and end Wright's day.

Wilson walked Encarnacion to complete Wright's line. Wright was optioned the next day in a series of moves that included Kevin Gausman being reinstated from the disabled list, Mychal Givens having his contract purchased from Double-A Bowie, Wilson being optioned and Rule 5 pick Jason Garcia being transferred to the 60-day disabled list.

The Orioles needed a starter today with Miguel Gonzalez going on the disabled list and Wei-Yin Chen better suited to face the Yankees on Monday. Wright is expected to compete for a rotation spot next spring, though he also could end up in the bullpen.

We shouldn't forget that Wright threw 14 1/3 scoreless innings over his first two major league starts against the Angels and Marlins. He didn't issue a walk in two of his first three starts, but he walked eight batters and struck out seven over his last three starts covering 10 1/3 innings.

Left-hander David Price is 4-1 with a 2.28 ERA in six starts with the Blue Jays, with eight walks and 50 strikeouts in 43 1/3 innings. He faced the Orioles on July 18 with the Tigers and allowed one run over seven innings, with one walk and 12 strikeouts.

Price is 7-4 with a 2.73 ERA in 18 career starts against the Orioles in the regular season. He allowed two runs in eight innings last year in Game 3 of the American League Division Series, but Bud Norris won that duel.

Matt Wieters, who's caught the last three games, is 15-for-44 with six doubles, a home run and 17 strikeouts against Price. Steve Pearce is 5-for-17 with a home run, Manny Machado is 5-for-18 with a double, Chris Davis is 5-for-18 with eight strikeouts and Adam Jones is 14-for-50 with four doubles and 12 strikeouts.

Shameless plus alert: I'm appearing on "Wall to Wall Baseball" today from 11:30 am.-12:30 p.m. on MASN.