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Blue Jays clash with division rivals

Jul 8, 2008 - 1:25 PM Baltimore (44-43) at Toronto (42-47) 7:07 pm EDT

TORONTO (Ticker) -- The Toronto Blue Jays need to start winning now if they hope to have any chance of remaining competitive in the top-heavy American League East.

The Blue Jays begin a 13-game stretch against divisional rivals on Tuesday when they host the Baltimore Orioles in the opener of a three-game set at Rogers Centre.

Toronto, the only team in the AL East with a losing record, has an opportunity to make up some ground heading into the All-Star break with six consecutive home games, including three against the New York Yankees (47-42).

The Blue Jays will resume the second half of the season with seven more games inside the division, including three at major league-best Tampa Bay (55-33) before wrapping up the stretch with a four-game set at Baltimore.

Toronto, which has lost four of five, sends Dustin McGowan (6-7, 4.36 ERA) to the mound. The righthander, who has lost three of his last four outings, took the loss in Wednesday's 4-2 setback at Seattle when he surrendered four runs and six hits over six innings.

Baltimore will counter with Daniel Cabrera (6-4, 4.34), who ended a seven-game winless streak in his last start. In Wednesday's 5-2 victory against Kansas City, the righthander tossed his second complete game of the season, allowing two runs and seven hits while collecting his first win since May 20.