Can Blue Jays stay hot against the Orioles? Full series preview

Across the Diamond: Baltimore Orioles

Outside of the recent 3-1 series loss against the Jays, the Orioles have been playing some very good baseball as of late. They limped through the end of May, losing seven of nine at the end of the month, but since the turn of the month they’ve won every series outside of the Jays one.

They won two in a row against the Red Sox, took two of three from the Yankees, swept the Royals, lost 3-1 to the Jays, and most recently, they took down the Red Sox in a three-game set. It’s an impressive string of baseball against a good set of teams. It’s a testament to how the Jays are playing to see them take three of four against them.

The Orioles strengths and weaknesses have become glaringly obvious. Their offence can win them a string of games, as they possess a number of different weapons that can do damage night in and night out.

The Jays staff has become very familiar with what Chris Davis and Adam Jones can do to opposing pitching. Not to mention Manny Machado, who’s grown into one of the best players in the game, and Mark Trumbo, who’s revitalized his career by punishing baseballs.

Baltimore’s season wRC+ of 107 sits near the top of the league and it’s been there for the duration of the year.

On the opposite side of the spectrum, is the O’s rotation. They’ve put together a 4.78 ERA, which puts them in 22nd place. The struggles in their rotation are truly what’s keeping them from being one of the game’s elite teams. The offence is dangerous, the defence is excellent, and the bullpen is one of the game’s best. Yet their rotation consistently gives opposing hitters easy matchups, and that’s what keeps them back.

Now for the pitching matchups:

Next: Game 1: Wright poses great matchup for scorching Jays offence