The Baltimore Orioles and Toronto Blue Jays will take the field on Saturday at Rogers Centre. First pitch is at 3:07 p.m. ET.
Baltimore (28-16 SU and 28-16 RL) will start right-hander Grayson Rodriguez tomorrow. The 23-year-old is 2-1 with a 6.57 ERA and 1.73 WHIP in eight outings this season.
Toronto (25-19 SU and 22-22 RL) will counter with righty Alek Manoah. The 25-year-old is 1-4 with a 5.40 ERA and 1.80 WHIP in nine starts this year.
The Blue Jays are -155 moneyline favorites and the game total is 9.5.
Baltimore is ahead of both Toronto and New York in the AL East standings, with a three-game lead over its division rivals. Are the Orioles prepared to outlast the Blue Jays and Yankees in the dog days of summer, though?
Baltimore scores 5.00 runs (9th) and hits .253 (13th) with a .754 OPS (9th). It's hit 53 homers (12th) and stolen 41 bases (5th) this season. The O's pitching staff has a 4.13 ERA (14th) and a 1.30 WHIP (15th) with 12 quality starts.
ADLEY RUTSCHMAN, THAT BALL HAD A FAMILY pic.twitter.com/hKow5d2yWM
— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) May 18, 2023
The rookie righty Rodriguez gets the nod in game two of the three-game set. He had the worst outing of his pro career in his last start, as the LA Angels knocked him around, scoring eight runs on nine hits in 3.1 frames. The Texas native was much better in his previous start against Tampa Bay, holding the Rays to two runs in 5.2 innings. Rodriguez sports a 44:17 K:BB ratio.