The Blue Jays wrap up their first road trip of 2015 with three games
against the defending AL East champion Baltimore Orioles. The O's and
Jays are tied with Boston for top spot in the standings with 2-1
records.
Miguel Castro — pitching here for the
Vancouver Canadians against Everett July 11 of last year — picked up
his first Major League save in Thursday's 6-3 victory over New York at
Yankee Stadium. The 20 year-old has pitched three perfect innings over three appearances with two strikeouts and zero walks.
The Orioles return home after winning two of out three against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Baltimore also completed a trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Orioles picked up righthander Ben Rowen and catcher Chris O'Brien (son of former Jays backstop Charlie O'Brien) while sending righty Ryan Webb, catcher Brian Ward and the 74th pick of the 2015 amateur draft.
The O's will be without catcher Matt Wieters and shortstop J.J. Hardy as they recover from elbow and shoulder maladies respectively. Former Jay Travis Snider is off to a .444/.583/.536 start with three walks and three runs batted in while pulling off a synchronized tumbling routine with Adam Jones in the outfield. Bud Norris is a career 4-0 against the Jays, who will have to endure a flag-raising ceremony as the Orioles hoist their AL East championship flag from last season.
Series Schedule & Probable Starters
Friday at 3:05 pm ET — Mark Buehrle vs. Bud Norris.
Saturday at 7:05 pm ET — Aaron Sanchez vs. Ubaldo Jimenez.
Sunday at 1:35 pm ET — Drew Hutchison (1-0, 1.50) vs. Chris Tillman (1-0, 1.35).
Jose Reyes (28 at-bats) and Dioner Navarro (14) are .357 hitters against Norris with Navarro homering once. Edwin Encarnacion is 3-for-10 but Jose Bautista is just 1-for-13. Joey Bats has also struggled with Ubaldo Jimenez with just two hits in 26 ABs. Russell Martin is 9-for-31 against Jimenez while Encarnacion is 6-for-23 with a home run. Bautista will be happier to see Chris Tilliman Sunday as he has hit .286 with a pair of homers. Dalton Pompey is 3-for-3 against Tillman while Reyes has hit .318 with a homer.
Extra Innings...
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