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Orioles-Blue Jays Preview

Aug 8, 2009 - 5:06 AM By CHRIS ALTRUDA STATS Editor

Baltimore (45-63) at Toronto (51-56), 1:07 p.m. EDT

As the other AL East teams vie for the division title, the Baltimore Orioles and Toronto Blue Jays are trying to find the pitchers that could one day help them challenge for a playoff spot.

For the second straight game, both teams send rookies to the mound at Rogers Centre as their series continues Saturday.

While New York leads the AL East with Boston and Tampa Bay still very much in the race, Toronto (51-57) and Baltimore (46-63) have long been too far behind to contend. That leaves both clubs looking to the future, particularly within their pitching staffs.

Jason Berken ended a personal nine-game losing streak for the last-place Orioles on Friday, overcoming back-to-back homers by Alex Rios and Vernon Wells in a 7-5 win for his first victory since May 26.

"He could have caved in and the team could have as well," Orioles manager Dave Trembley said of Berken. "It could have been 'Here we go again.' He didn't do it."

Nick Markakis and Nolan Reimold each had two RBIs for Baltimore, which prevented Ricky Romero from becoming the majors' first 11-game winner among rookies.

The Orioles now start Chris Tillman (0-0, 6.75 ERA), for whom the organization has high hopes as he makes his third start since being promoted last month.

The 21-year-old right-hander was unable to protect a five-run, first-inning lead Monday at Detroit, where he gave up three in the first and five overall in six innings in Baltimore's 6-5 loss. Tillman has allowed 14 hits - including four home runs - in 10 2-3 innings.

"This team's getting younger every day, and you've just got to be patient and let the young guys play every day," first baseman Aubrey Huff told the Orioles' official Web site. "If we're going to lose, then you want to lose with guys who will be here in the future."

Baltimore has gone 6-15 since the All-Star break and has not won consecutive road games since taking the last two of a three-game series at Seattle on July 7 and 8.

Blue Jays first-year starter Brett Cecil (5-1, 4.36) takes the mound having gone 3-0 with a 1.67 ERA in his last four starts. The left-hander beared down after a four-run second inning at Oakland on Saturday, recovering to pitch five shutout innings to win his second straight start in a 6-5 victory over Oakland.

"They were sitting on the fastball," Cecil said. "In the third inning, I didn't throw one fastball the whole time... After (the second) I felt like a different pitcher."

Cecil, with Toronto since May, beat Baltimore on July 10 as he scattered four hits and two walks in six innings of a 2-0 victory.

Wells is 7 for 19 with five RBIs in his last five games for Toronto, which has dropped six of seven at home.