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Orioles-Blue Jays Preview

Sep 22, 2009 - 3:59 AM By ALAN FERGUSON STATS Writer

Baltimore (60-89) at Toronto (66-83), 7:07 p.m. EDT

While they have struggled most of the AL East this season, the Toronto Blue Jays have dominated the Baltimore Orioles at home.

They'll try for their seventh home win over Baltimore in eight meetings when these teams continue their series Tuesday night.

Toronto (67-83) are 21-43 against division rivals in 2009, but improved to 6-1 at home this season against the Orioles (60-90) with Monday night's series-opening 9-2 victory.

The Blue Jays will be short-handed again, as shortstop Marco Scutaro is expected to miss rest of the season after an MRI on Monday showed a tear in his right heel. Scutaro, who has been bothered by pain in the same area since late July, was batting .282, third-best among the team's active regulars. He also had a career-high 12 homers and matched another with 60 RBIs.

"As soon as I feel good, I'm going to play," Scutaro told the team's official Web site. "I just want to play ... I don't like sitting around here and watching the games on TV."

His replacement, John McDonald, hit a solo homer in Monday's win and five other players had two hits apiece as Toronto snapped a four-game skid.

Brian Tallet (7-9, 5.31 ERA) is expected to start for the Blue Jays despite taking a line drive off his right foot last Wednesday in New York. He left after giving up two runs in two innings but did not get a decision in Toronto's 5-4 loss.

Since returning to the rotation Sept. 1, Tallet has benefited from a 9.8 run support average, parlaying it into a 2-1 record despite a 6.87 ERA.

As they try to avoid a season high-tying sixth straight loss, the Orioles will turn to Mark Hendrickson (5-5, 4.47) to keep his former team at bay. The 6-foot-9 left-hander, who began his career with the Blue Jays in 2002 and 2003, has dropped four straight starts against Toronto including an 8-4 road loss May 1. He's 3-7 with a 4.92 ERA in 16 appearances - 11 starts - versus the Blue Jays.

Hendrickson is 4-0 with a 3.44 ERA in relief this season, but is 1-5 with a 6.25 ERA as a starter and has lost five straight starts since winning his season debut April 10.

Making his first start since May 12 on Thursday night, he took the loss in a 3-0 defeat to visiting Tampa Bay after giving up two runs over 3 1-3 innings.

"I thought the first three innings, he was real sharp," manager Dave Trembley told Baltimore's official Web site. He did a real nice job for the first time out."

Brian Roberts will try to give him teammate a boost and tie the majors' single-season record for doubles by a switch hitter, set by Lance Berkman in 2001. Roberts has a career-high 54 this season.

The Orioles are 6-24 in road games against AL East rivals.