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Orioles-Blue Jays Preview

Sep 20, 2009 - 11:53 PM By DAN PIERINGER STATS Writer

Baltimore (60-88) at Toronto (66-82), 7:07 p.m. EDT

Toronto's recent struggles within the AL East continued as the team was swept by a division rival over the weekend. If recent history is any indication, the Blue Jays have a good chance of bouncing back with the Baltimore Orioles coming to town.

The Blue Jays look to continue their home dominance of the Orioles as the clubs open a three-game series Monday night at Rogers Centre.

Toronto (66-83) finished a nine-game road trip with four straight losses against AL East teams, including three in a row against Tampa Bay over the weekend. The Rays became the first team to beat Blue Jays ace Roy Halladay four times in a season with a 3-1 victory Sunday.

That defeat dropped Toronto to 6-18 within the division since it took two of three against Baltimore from Aug. 7-9 - its last series win against an AL East opponent.

The Blue Jays have to like their chances against the last-place Orioles (60-89), losers of 10 of 12 at Rogers Centre since their last series win there from June 6-8, 2008. Baltimore is 1-5 in Toronto this season and 6-23 overall on the road against AL East teams.

The Orioles have lost their last four games, all at home against division rivals. They were outscored 23-9 in three straight losses to Boston over the weekend, finishing 2-16 in the season series.

"If you're going to compete with a team of that caliber, you've got to pitch up to their level and you've got to hit up to their level," outfielder Luke Scott said after a 9-3 loss in Sunday's finale.

"We've gotten our hits and we've scored runs, but you've got to match them on the mound. That's the first place you've got to start."

The Blue Jays aren't of the same caliber as the Red Sox, but the Orioles would still love to get a strong showing from Chris Tillman (2-3, 4.50 ERA) on Monday.

The rookie right-hander delivered one of his best games Wednesday, holding Tampa Bay to one run and five hits in a season high-tying 6 2-3 innings. He didn't get the decision in Baltimore's 4-2 victory.

Tillman also lasted 6 2-3 innings in his first start against Toronto on Aug. 8. He gave up two runs and four hits in the Orioles' 3-2, 10-inning defeat on the road.

The Blue Jays will counter with David Purcey (0-2, 6.32). The left-hander made a bid for his first win of the year last Monday, holding Detroit to two runs and five hits over 5 2-3 innings. But the Toronto bullpen struggled late, and the Blue Jays fell 6-5 in 10 innings.

Purcey, competing for a spot in the 2010 rotation, can help his cause if he can more effectively control his pitches. He's issued 22 walks in 31 1-3 innings.

"All our kids have got little control problems," manager Cito Gaston told the Blue Jays' official Web site. "It's hard to pitch up here pitching behind all the time, especially with good teams. They'll make you pay."

Purcey had just one walk but gave up six runs in five innings in his only previous outing against Baltimore last September 17.