Blue Jays Series Preview: Baltimore Orioles look to keep Jays grounded

Apr 18, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; Baltimore Orioles center fielder

(10) singles against the Boston Red Sox during the fifth inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports

On the Orioles side of things, the team that made the least amount of noise is making the most of the beginning of the season led by the huge start to the season of one Adam Jones. Jones is leading the AL in average, runs, hits, RBI, OBP, SLG and OPS while trailing only Nelson Cruz in home runs.

Additionally, the team has once again gotten surprisingly solid play from back-up catcher Caleb Joseph. Joseph, who stepped in last season when the Orioles lost Matt Weiters to Tommy John surgery, has stepped up in 2015 with Weiters slow to recover from the surgery. The 29-year-old backstop is slashing an impressive .375/.487/.594.

Of course, the Orioles are not without their struggles either. Important bats like Chris Davis (.239), Alejandro De Aza (.239), Steve Pearce (.175), and Manny Machado (.139) has faltered out of the gate.

A resurgent Ubaldo Jimenez has given up 1 hit in two starts and Miguel Gonzalez and Wei-Yin Chen have done their part in anchoring a pretty good starting rotation. Zach Britton has 4 saves already and as the rest of the AL East clubs each other around the .500 mark the Orioles are slowly but surely making their mark early.

Apr 15, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays pitcher

delivers a pitch against Tampa Bay Rays in the first inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports

Game 1: Bud Norris (0-1, 12.38 ERA) vs Mark Buehrle (2-0, 3.75 ERA)

People thought when Bud Norris got out of Houston that he would truly become one of the better pitchers in the AL. He did fairly well last year with a 15-8 record and a 3.65 ERA. However, a 4.22 FIP showed that the ERA was perhaps lower than it should have been, and that’s shown to be true thus far in 2015. The right-hander has given up 11 earned in 8 innings while opponents are hitting him to a tune of .353. Not getting the job done so far is an understatement. If he can turn things around starting in Toronto he will make a good rotation great. If not, it will be a dogfight from beginning to end for the AL East title.

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Mark Buehrle has been his same ol’, same ol’. Buehrle continues to truck along with a decent ERA, not many strikeouts, and a lot of hits that seem to go for naught. An official member of the 200 win club he will look to push that total up and keep proving himself to be, IMO a re-incarnation of Jack Morris with a fewer strikeouts. He pitches to win. It may not always be a pretty scene but he always wins. With rumors of retirement at the end of the season already floating around, you have to wonder if Buehrle has an immaculate run in the tank.

Apr 16, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays opening pitcher Aaron Sanchez (41) against Tampa Bay Rays in the fifth inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Peter Llewellyn-USA TODAY Sports

Game 2: Ubaldo Jimenez (1-0, 0.00 ERA) vs Aaron Sanchez (0-2, 6.23 ERA)

It would seem Jimenez has found himself. After starting off his career rather well with the Rockies and then rejuvenating his career with the Indians during his 2013 walk-year, he scuffled last year for the Orioles. That seems to be a thing of the past now. Jimenez has the ability to be overpowering and as the years have gone forward his knowledge has helped back up the stuff that he has. 2011-2014 were not very kind but so far this year he is striking out a batter and inning with a WHIP of 0.469. Oh, and did I mention Jimenez has only surrendered ONE hit in his first 10.1 innings of work in 2015? Not too shabby a way to start it off. This guy could potentially give the Blue Jays bats fits.

Meanwhile, Aaron Sanchez is coming along much the way many young pitchers do. He has bouts of greatness overshadowed by the bumps incurred along the way. There has always been talk of Sanchez having difficulty keeping his mechanics in order and so far that seems to be the case. The WHIP is almost at 2 and he has walked as many as he has struck out so far. With Marco Estrada looking good out of the bullpen the last couple outings (4.1 IP, 2 hits, 5 strike-outs), there has already been whispers of the Jays discussing Sanchez moving to the bullpen. If he doesn’t turn it around shortly, he may be looking at demotion so he can find his feel again.

Apr 17, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Drew Hutchison (36) throws against the Atlanta Braves in the first inning at the Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports

Game 3: Chris Tillman (2-1. 5.52 ERA) vs Drew Hutchison (1-0, 7.20 ERA)

Tillman is one of the holdovers from the days gone by where the Orioles were not much of anything since the playoffs back in the mid-nineties. He has had a slow start (5.52 ERA, 1.70 WHIP, .298 BAA) to the season but when September comes around, rest assured he will be one of the best pitchers on this team. He is a leader and truly committed to being the best he can be. He is pure mid-rotation fodder that will always be in the game no matter who the opponent.

Hutch has been a bit of an enigma. This year is the year he should be striving for consistency. He has the arm for it and he has a full MLB season under his belt after dealing with the dreaded Tommy John surgery. He has to keep the ball in the park (3 HR allowed in 15.0 IP) and attack the hitters more in order to achieve sustained success. Too often, Hutchison finds himself trying to paint corners and working himself into heavy pitch counts early in the game. With his work ethic and struggle for perfection it may be detrimental to him, but he has the pure stuff to be much more. Enjoy the gig and many more.

Apr 8, 2015; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Baltimore Orioles right fielder Travis Snider (23) strikes out during the ninth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. The Rays won 2-0. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Player to Watch

Well I already told you about how Adam Jones is hitting the snot out of everything along with being a plus defender. He has truly come into his own. Additionally, he has killed the Blue Jays over the years, hitting them to the tune of .285/.329/.499 with 27 home runs and 69 RBI in 128 games against Toronto. Additionally, Chris Davis has had his way with Blue Jays pitching, hitting .307/.383/.674 with 25 home runs and 61 RBI in just 75 games against the Jays.

So who else is worth watching?

None other than former Blue Jays phenom Travis Snider. He is hitting over .300 so far and has settled in nicely with his new team. Pittsburgh taught him a thing or two about humility and winning, and the Orioles are hoping he will help offset the loss of slugger Nelson Cruz or Nick Markakis. He is getting on base at a .405 OBP clip so here’s hoping he has finally arrived. Unfortunately it is in the wrong uniform.

Apr 19, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays center fielder

(45) is unable to catch a ball during first inning in a game against the Atlanta Braves at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports

Series Prediction

This is going to be a tough go of it for the Blue Jays. Toronto took the first series between the two teams, April 10-12 in Baltimore but did so on the back of their bats, outscoring the Orioles 23-19 in the series. Since returning to Rogers Centre, those bats have quieted down a bit, so the offense is going to need to return.

Having 2 of the 3 games started by struggling youngsters against a team that can flat out hit is going to be tough. If Sanchez and Hutchison can regain their form and are mechanically sound then this could be a great series for the Blue Jays to vault themselves back into contention for the AL East lead. This, along with the resurgent bats of the previously mentioned Joey Bats, EE and the tough guy Russ Martin should help ease the concerns going through Blue Jays land right now…but until then it looks like the Orioles may just build on their lead a bit and take 2 of 3 from the Blue Jays.

Next: Blue Jays Starting Pitching Power Rankings

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