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Orioles-Blue Jays Preview

Aug 8, 2009 - 11:12 PM By MIKE LIPKA STATS Writer

Baltimore (46-63) at Toronto (51-57), 1:07 p.m. EDT

Although it looked like Roy Halladay might be traded before the July 31 deadline, the Toronto Blue Jays still have their ace for at least the remainder of the season.

The Baltimore Orioles hope their No. 1 starter of the future has just arrived.

Halladay and highly touted rookie Brian Matusz form an intriguing pitching matchup as the Blue Jays and Orioles wrap up their three-game series Sunday.

Nearly a month of speculation ensued after Toronto general manager J.P. Ricciardi announced the team was fielding offers for Halladay, but the 2003 AL Cy Young Award winner remained with the club that drafted him in the first round 14 years ago.

Even Halladay (11-5, 2.75 ERA) has had trouble winning for the fading Blue Jays lately. He has thrown nine innings in three of his last four starts, but has won just one of them, and is 1-4 despite a 3.17 ERA in seven starts since a brief stint on the disabled list in June.

After a complete-game loss to the New York Yankees on Tuesday, Halladay was clear about his goals for the rest of the season.

"Win," the right-hander said. "That's the reason you're here. I don't think at any point you can pack it in and work on things. You have to come out every day to try and win."

When Halladay has faced Baltimore in the past, that has typically been the result for Toronto. He is 19-4 with a 2.92 ERA against the Orioles - his most victories against any opponent - and has won the last nine decisions since May 4, 2005.

The Blue Jays (52-57) won 3-2 in 10 innings on Saturday on Adam Lind's RBI double. They had dropped the series opener 7-5 on Friday.

Toronto's offense has been spotty during the team's 11-23 slump dating back to June 27, but they've received a home run from Alex Rios each of the last two days after reports emerged that an unnamed team put a waiver claim on the disappointing outfielder.

"I guess I can't do anything if I get traded, and I'm going to have to go to wherever I get traded to," said Rios, third on the team with 14 homers. "But at this point I'm thinking that I'm staying here. That's the way I have to think about it."

Toronto's hitters will be getting their first look at Matusz, the fourth overall pick in the 2008 draft.

After going 7-0 with a 1.55 ERA for Double-A Bowie, Matusz (1-0, 1.80) made his major league debut Tuesday, allowing one run and six hits in five innings of an 8-2 win over Detroit.

"He has tremendous mound presence and has command of four pitches," Orioles' manager Dave Trembley said. "He is going to be a top of the rotation starter. He's going to be good for a very long time."

An ace is something the Orioles (46-64) have lacked in recent years, and their 4.99 staff ERA this season ranks 28th in the majors.

Their offense and defense also may have taken a hit Saturday when leadoff man Brian Roberts fouled a ball off his shin and left the game. X-rays were negative but it's unclear if Roberts, who's hitting .282 with nine homers and 46 RBIs, will be able to return Sunday.