masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgThe Rogers Centre in Toronto was once a house of horrors for the Orioles. They hardly ever won there.
In 2010, they went winless there, losing all nine games between the teams. From 2009-12, the Orioles were 4-23 in Toronto.
But since they have been winning again, they are 13-15 at Rogers Centre since the 2012 season. That included a 5-4 mark last year, the Orioles’ first winning record at Toronto in a single season since 2005.
But all that losing has left the Orioles with a record of just…

The Rogers Centre in Toronto was once a house of horrors for the Orioles. They hardly ever won there.

In 2010, they went winless there, losing all nine games between the teams. From 2009-12, the Orioles were 4-23 in Toronto.

But since they have been winning again, they are 13-15 at Rogers Centre since the 2012 season. That included a 5-4 mark last year, the Orioles’ first winning record at Toronto in a single season since 2005.

But all that losing has left the Orioles with a record of just 20-44 there since June 2008.

This is the second series of the season against the Blue Jays, who took two of three at Camden Yards earlier, outscoring the Orioles 23-19. O’s pitching had an ERA of 7.67 in that series, but 12 of those runs came in the home-opening loss.

Jones-Davis-sidebar-fenway.pngAdam Jones went 7-for-10 with two homers and five RBIs in that series. Chris Davis went 5-for-13 with a homer and two RBIs.

Toronto’s Jose Reyes went 7-for-12 with two doubles and two RBIs and Jose Bautista was 4-for-10 with a homer and four RBIs.

Reyes has a career slash line of .354/.383/.486 in 144 at-bats against the Orioles. He missed the last three games with a cracked rib, but returns to the lineup tonight. Toronto reporters tweeted this afternoon that because of that injury, he will bat only from the right side tonight.

On the mound tonight, Bud Norris (0-1, 12.38 ERA) pitches against Blue Jays left-hander Mark Buehrle (2-0, 3.75 ERA).

Norris has not started as well in 2015 as he ended 2014, when he pitched to a 3.27 ERA in the second half and was 4-0 with a 2.08 ERA in September.

His first 2015 start was in the O’s home opener against Buehrle and he took the 12-5 loss. He gave up four runs in the first inning that day and allowed eight runs in three-plus innings.

Last year, Norris went 4-0 with a 1.78 ERA against Toronto. He was 9-1 with a 2.85 ERA in 14 starts versus the American League East and the O’s went 13-1 in those games.

Buehrle gave up two runs in six innings as Toronto won the Camden Yards opener. It was his 200th career win and he got No. 201 in his last start against Tampa Bay.

In 25 career appearances against Baltimore, he is 9-10 with a 3.54 ERA.

Comparing the teams:

Orioles: 4.8 runs per game, .272 team average, 19 homers, .797 OPS, 4.33 team ERA, 4.11 starters’ ERA

Toronto: 5.4 runs per game, .246 team average, 16 homers, .733 OPS, 4.50 team ERA, 5.14 starters ERA

Saying thank you: Today is the last day at MASNsports.com for Josh Land. You have seen some examples of his excellent reporting and writing here like this piece on Toronto published today. But he has probably had his biggest impact for us out of the public eye.

He’s had a great three years here and did so many things that were important and of great benefit to this website – many that were so helpful to writers like me and that made the blogs more enjoyable for readers like you.

As he moves on to another great opportunity, I wish him the best and look forward to continuing the great friendship we first started when he covered the Orioles for the Carroll County Times. Thanks for everything friend!