Omar

Jays looking for timely against East rival Orioles The Toronto Blue Jays will have another chance to improve their record within the American League East when they open a three-game series against the visiting Baltimore Orioles on Friday night. The Orioles, who are 6-6 against AL East teams, lost 6-5 Thursday to the visiting Los Angeles Angels to split a four-game series. Baltimore completed a 10-game homestand at 6-4. Toronto is scheduled to start left-hander Yusei Kikuchi (5-0, 3.89 ERA) in the series opener. He faced the Orioles six times last season (three starts), going 2-3 with an 8.10 ERA. In 8 career games (five starts), he is 3-4 with a 6.37 ERA. Right-hander Kyle Gibson (4-3, 4.67) is slated to start for Baltimore on Friday. He is 5-2 with a 4.81 ERA in 11 career starts against Toronto. The Blue Jays could welcome back reliever Adam Cimber (rhomboid strain in the upper back) against the Orioles. The Blue Jays must contend with Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman, who hit an impressive two-run home run against the Angels on Thursday. It was his seventh homer of the season. The 25-year-old is batting .285/.407/.462 with 14 extra-base hits, 24 RBIs and a team-best 34 walks. He has been impressive since making his major league debut last May 21. The Orioles are 12 games over .500 and second in the East to the Tampa Bay Rays, who are winning at a .711 clip. Baltimore is 3 1/2 games back, and the Jays are 6 1/2 behind in third place.

Pencil me in for Springer tonight. ....I know, I know.

This is behind a paywall. In a nutshell, it doesn't look good for Manoah.

Very good summation. Thanks for writing this so the rest of us don’t have to. I have been a Biggio supporter for the most part throughout years past. I thought he could progress to another level and always thought his obp numbers would keep him in good stead. I’m done now with that. There really isn’t any viable reason for him to be on the major league roster. How can we start him in the corner outfield ahead of Lukes?? John Schneider I’m looking at you. Somewhere Terminator is smiling right now; I may have to start calling him Craig Biggio’s son from now on.

Got to give our starters some run support. Lethargic bats are going to sink us.

The Orioles series is going to be huge. Bats have to wake up.

Exactly, no point having your fb setting up the breaking stuff if he can't get it over the plate.

Nice shutdown inning by Nate.

I plead guilty, your honour.

Nice work Jose, I was wrong to doubt you.

Incredible how much more trim Kirk looked in the black sweat shirt vs a white jersey.

That's how you turn two boys!

The only way Hicks gets on base this season.

It's probably Buck's last year in the booth, let's give him a pass.

Bader can really go get it.

Voltaren > RubA535

LOB thy name is Blue Jay.

Berrios can't seem to locate tonight.....again.

LET'S GO JAYS!!!!!

May 18 Bichette - 1 Point - Abomination Chapman - 2 Points - JaysAllMighty, Omar Varsho - 2 Points - jays4life19, Dylan Springer - 2 Points Belt - 3 Points Kirk - 4 Points - Stangstag Jansen - 4 Points Merrifield - 5 Points - wilko Espinal - 6 Points - mphenhef Off the bench: 10 Points - WryNGinger, Jaysblue

I know he has his haters on this board but Atkins pulled all the right levers on those deals. Also I don’t think we’ve seen anything close to peak Varsho. Give Ross some credit there.

A new winning streak starts now. Keep 'er going.

You need to drive a silver spike into the heart of the Rays along with some cloves of garlic to make that team slump.