• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Blue Jays-Orioles Preview

Jul 18, 2010 - 4:52 AM By MATT BEARDMORE STATS Writer

Toronto (45-45) at Baltimore (29-60), 1:35 p.m. EDT

The Toronto Blue Jays are one of the worst hitting teams in the AL, but they have plenty of power to help compensate for those offensive deficiencies. The Baltimore Orioles don't have that luxury.

Toronto looks for its third straight three-game sweep of the Orioles on Sunday when these AL East foes conclude their series at Camden Yards.

Despite hitting just .241 - second-lowest in the AL - the Blue Jays (46-45) lead the majors with 139 homers. They have 24 homers while hitting the ball out of the park in 10 straight games. Toronto hit two in Saturday's 3-2 win over Baltimore - a leadoff shot by Fred Lewis on the first pitch of the game and a two-run blast by Jose Bautista in the eighth inning.

"I was looking for a pitch to drive, a fastball. I was lucky enough to get a second one," said Bautista, who has hit three of his major league-best 25 homers against the Orioles. "(Jason Berken) threw it over the plate nice and low where I like it."

Baltimore (29-61), which is batting .258, has just 76 homers - among the fewest in the AL. The Orioles, though, are also scoring the second-fewest runs per game in the league (3.6) and have averaged 1.9 runs in eight losses to Toronto this season.

Shaun Marcum (7-4, 3.44 ERA) is expected to be activated from the 15-day disabled list prior to the game as the Blue Jays try to win nine in a row in this matchup for the first time since a 10-game run in 1999.

After missing his last start with inflammation in his surgically repaired right elbow, Marcum will likely be on a pitch count.

"We've been more proactive then we ever have before," general manager Alex Anthopoulos told the Blue Jays' official website prior to the All-Star break. "If a guy's a little sore, especially coming off Tommy John (surgery in 2008) - a lot of guys want to fight through it and battle through it - we're not going to take any chances."

Marcum was denied a third straight win July 1, yielding six fourth-inning runs as Toronto fell 6-1.

He is 1-0 with a 1.50 ERA in two starts versus Baltimore in 2010. In a 5-2 victory at Camden Yards on April 11, Marcum threw six innings of eight-hit ball.

While the Blue Jays are going for their first sweep on the road since May 3-5 against the Indians, the Orioles will try to salvage the finale by giving the ball to rookie left-hander Brian Matusz (3-9, 4.77), who is receiving among the lowest run support in the AL at 3.4.

In his only start against the Blue Jays, Matusz lasted just 2 2-3 innings in a 7-3 loss in Toronto on Aug. 9. He gave up five runs and seven hits, including a career-high three home runs.

Orioles right fielder Nick Markakis is batting .214 (6 for 28) with eight strikeouts against the Blue Jays this season, but he is 9 for 23 with five homers lifetime against Marcum.

Toronto has eight homers while winning all five games in Baltimore this season.