Blue Jays Series Preview: Igniting the rivalry with the Orioles

Game 3: April 21 – 7:05 ET @ Camden Yards

Marco Estrada (1-1, 2.77 ERA, 3.11 FIP) vs.
Chris Tillman (1-1, 5.11 ERA, 3.11 FIP)

I’m not sure there’s a pitcher in the big leagues that I’d rather see a struggling Jays lineup see. They absolutely tuned Tillman last year in the six starts he made against them. The earned run totals for those six starts were: 7, 7, 5, 6, 6, 2. The only quality start was the last one of the year on September 28, and the rest were batting practice for the Jays hitters.

In those 6 starts, he finished with a line of 25.1 IP, 40 H, 33 ER, 11 BB, 15 K. He gave up 10 HR and finished with an ERA of 11.27. Can’t ask for much more as a Jays hitter than having Tillman take the hill.

Compounding Tillman’s woes, is that his last start in Texas didn’t go very well for him. Let’s hope the Jays can take advantage of this matchup.

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Estrada, who has had a solid start to the year, had some success against the Orioles last year. He made four starts against the O’s offence, pitching into the fifth inning twice and seventh inning twice, without allowing more than 3 ER in any start. Not dominant by any means, but he was able to keep their strong lineup in check.

Estrada did give up 5 HR in those 4 starts, so that will be something he has to limit in the series finale.