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Blue Jays-Orioles Preview

Oct 4, 2009 - 3:40 AM By JEFF MEZYDLO STATS Senior Writer

Toronto (75-85) at Baltimore (62-98), 1:35 p.m. EDT

The Baltimore Orioles might be able to salvage some pride this year after all. The Toronto Blue Jays, meanwhile, will end their disappointing season in a bit of disarray.

While the season finale couldn't come soon enough for the bottom two teams in the AL East, the Orioles look for a fourth straight victory when they face the visiting Blue Jays on Sunday.

Though Baltimore (63-98) will finish last in the division for the second straight year, the Orioles assured themselves of avoiding the third 100-loss season in their history with a 6-3 win over Toronto on Saturday. Jeff Fiorentino had two hits and drove in two runs.

"We don't have to talk about it. ... We don't have to consider that any longer," Baltimore manager Dave Trembley said of the prospect of 100 losses. "I didn't think that was particularly prominent, although nobody wants to have to deal with something like that."

The Orioles, who have won three in a row since dropping 13 straight, now look to sweep the Blue Jays for the second time this season.

Toronto (75-86), meanwhile, is ending its season amid off-field distractions.

A day after it was reported that the team is embroiled in clubhouse unrest with manager Cito Gaston, the Blue Jays fired general manager J.P. Ricciardi on Saturday, ending an eight-year tenure marked by an inability to get past the Yankees and Red Sox and into the playoffs.

Assistant GM Alex Anthopoulos was promoted to replace Ricciardi on an interim basis.

"J.P. has put an incredible amount of effort into improving the team and he has brought along a number of great young players," Toronto's acting president and CEO Paul Beeston said. "However, I feel that it is time for a change and accordingly we have decided to move on."

Travis Snider had two hits with an RBI in Saturday's loss for the Blue Jays, who are wrapping up their first losing season in four years, but had won nine of 10 heading into this set.

While his team's future might seem uncertain, it appears quite bright for Toronto starter Ricky Romero (13-9, 4.26 ERA), who looks to end a solid rookie season on a positive note Sunday.

"Who knows what's going to happen with us in the future," Romero told the Blue Jays' official Web site. "You just try to enjoy it as much as possible ... just go out there and have fun."

The 24-year-old left-hander allowed two runs in five innings to earn the victory in an 8-7 win at Boston on Tuesday. With another victory in the season finale, he can match the Toronto record for most wins by a rookie, set by reliever Mark Eichhorn in 1986.

Despites his overall success, Romero is 0-2 with a 5.59 ERA in three starts against Baltimore.

Jeremy Guthrie (10-17, 5.05) earned a victory Opening Day and will try to do the same in the season finale for the Orioles. In between, he's had a rough time.

The right-hander, who will finish with the most losses in the majors, tries to avoid dropping his fifth consecutive start after giving up three runs in seven innings of a 3-1 loss at Tampa Bay on Tuesday.

Guthrie is 0-4 with a 5.68 ERA since beating Texas on Sept. 6.

"It's not a mental issue," Guthrie told the Orioles' official Web site. "Overall, my stuff was as good as it's been all year."

Guthrie is 2-4 with a 3.43 ERA in 10 starts against the Blue Jays.