Jays/Orioles Series Preview

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - SEPTEMBER 5: A general view as Roman Anthony #19 of the Boston Red Sox bats during the first inning of a game against the Baltimore Orioles on September 5, 2026 at Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) | Getty

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What is the story about?

Tonight the Jays start their second-to-last series of the season. Six games remain, with a mathematical chance of making the playoffs, but math occasionally lies. But a series sweep would make things a little more interesting.

Anyway, they have three games in Baltimore:

Tonight, 6:35 start time: Trey Yesavage (5-5, 3.65) vs. Shance Baz (6-15, 4.11).
Tuesday, 6:35 start time: Max Scherzer (3-8, 6.07) vs. Chris Bassitt (8-5, 4.64).
Wednesday, 6:35 start time: TBD vs. TBD.

Trey’s last rehab start wasn’t exactly something to build our confidence, but then I doubt there is a direct correlation between rehab starts and the major league return.

Rain is in the forecast for Baltimore this week, but the league

will get the games in no matter what it takes. There isn’t time to reschedule.

The Orioles are two games back of the Jays, not quite officially eliminated, but they likely will be in the next couple of days.

The Orioles rank sixth in the AL in runs/game at 4.44 (the Jays are second-to-last at 4.01). They are 11th in runs allowed per game at 4.64 (the Jays are sixth at 4.30).

The Orioles have some excellent batters and fielders:

Pete Alonso: .264/.358/.500 with 38 home runs, a league-leading 105 RBI, 78 walks and 163 RBI for a 4.3 bWAR.
Gunnar Henderson: .223/.308/.397 with 23 home runs, 65 walks and 151 strikeouts, 3.0 bWAR. Outs Above Average has him at a +2, but I think his defence is better than that.
Colton Cowser: .224/.313/.367 with 13 home runs, 43 walks and 118 strikeouts for a 2.4 bWAR. Outs above average have him at a +7 in center field.
Samuel Basallo: .223/.292/.408 with 18 home runs, 32 walks and 104 strikeouts for a 1.7 bWAR. He’s just 21, has a great arm behind the plate, throwing out 26.2% of basesteals (league average is 22.7).

The bullpen isn’t their strong point:

Andrew Kittredge: 3.61 ERA, 10 saves, 5 blown saves, 9 holds. Batters are hitting .274/.311/.416 against him.
Rico Garcia: 3.18 ERA, 9 saves, 6 blown saves, 18 holds. Batters are hitting .185/.261/.343 against him.
Anthony Nunez: 3.90, 3 saves, 3 blown saves, 7 holds. Batters are hitting .204/.304/.322 against him.
Grant Wolfram: 4.35, 1 save, 1 blown, 13 holds. Batters are hitting .261/.327/.397 against him. He’s a lefty, but lefties are hitting .284/.348/.382 against him.
Yennier Cano: 3.00, 3 saves, 2 blown, 13 holds. Batters are hitting .214/.273/.280 against him.

They also have former Jays lefty Josh Walker in the pen. He has a 1.57 ERA in 29 games.