The Toronto Blue Jays will go for their sixth straight victory on Saturday when they take on the host Baltimore Orioles in the third game of their weekend series.
Toronto took the first two games of this series, the latest 5-2 on Friday night, with some help from two more homers. Freddy Galvis and Brandon Drury both hit solo shots, and the Blue Jays have seven homers in the first two games of this series.
The Blue Jays have capitalized on the Orioles’ season-long struggles to keep the ball in the ballpark. Eleven of Toronto’s 16 runs in the first two games have come via the home run.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. also drove in a run on Friday and has 17 RBIs in his last six games. According to MLB.com, he’s the youngest player to ever drive in that many runs over six games.
Derek Fisher, acquired this week from Houston, also pitched in Friday with his first hit and RBI since joining the Jays. His ninth-inning single expanded Toronto’s lead to 5-2.
The Blue Jays still are having some injury issues, however.
Pitcher Ryan Borucki, who was placed on the injured list Thursday, retroactive to July 28, has elbow inflammation and a bone spur, and the team is going to talk with surgeon Dr. James Andrews.
“We are going to involve Dr. Andrews now to see where we are with (Borucki) and what’s the plan long-term,” Toronto manager Charlie Montoyo said to MLB.com during the week. “We are just gathering information to see where we are going to go, how he feels.”
Randal Grichuk missed Friday’s game after fouling a ball off his face Thursday. He was fortunate to suffer no major damage, as the team’s website said Grichuk had just a cut lip and needed to have some teeth re-adjusted.
Injuries also were a problem Friday for the Orioles, who were left with a rather short bench.
Baltimore was down to basically one bench player due to problems with Hanser Alberto (shin) and Stevie Wilkerson (swollen knee), which both occurred in Thursday’s loss because of foul balls while they were batting. Alberto flew out as a pinch hitter in the ninth inning of Friday’s loss.
Jose Rondon was the only fully player Baltimore had on the bench. Rondon was acquired from the White Sox a few days ago but did not play Friday night.
Situations likes these are why manager Brandon Hyde likes to have players who can do more than one thing on his roster.
“The more flexibility and versatility you have on your roster, the more it allows guys to rest. It gets guys more playing time, and you’re able to put a major league lineup out there,” Hyde told MASN before the game. “It’s worked out well for us.”
Chris Davis hit his 250th homer as an Oriole in Friday’s loss, a two-run shot in the seventh.
Dylan Bundy (5-11, 5.24 ERA) will start Saturday for the Orioles against Thomas Pannone (2-4, 5.98 ERA).
Bundy is 4-3 with a 3.23 ERA against the Blue Jays in 12 career appearances, including eight starts. Pannone is 1-1 and has a 4.11 career ERA versus Baltimore in four games, including two starts.