masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgThe starters are set for the three-game series against the Red Sox at Camden Yards that follows tonight’s game in Toronto.
Miguel Gonzalez opposes Rick Porcello on Friday, Wei-Yin Chen opposes Justin Masterson on Saturday and Bud Norris opposes Wade Miley on Sunday.
Didn’t these teams just play each other?

Since the start of the 2014 season, Chris Tillman has gone 10-1 in 18 road starts and leads the majors with a .909 road winning percentage in that span. He’s on the mound tonight at…

The starters are set for the three-game series against the Red Sox at Camden Yards that follows tonight’s game in Toronto.

Miguel Gonzalez opposes Rick Porcello on Friday, Wei-Yin Chen opposes Justin Masterson on Saturday and Bud Norris opposes Wade Miley on Sunday.

Didn’t these teams just play each other?

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Since the start of the 2014 season, Chris Tillman has gone 10-1 in 18 road starts and leads the majors with a .909 road winning percentage in that span. He’s on the mound tonight at Rogers Centre.

The Orioles could use a quality start from Tillman with their rotation’s 5.30 ERA in 15 games ranking 27th in the majors. Only the Mariners (5.59), Brewers (5.65) and Red Sox (5.71) are below them.

Alejandro De Aza’s absence from the lineup tonight could be based more on his slump than his baserunning blunder last night. He’s 3-for-23 with seven strikeouts in his last six games to lower his average to .240 with a .269 on-base percentage.

De Aza was thrown out last night trying to steal third base with two outs, Chris Davis at the plate and the Orioles down by two runs. Manager Buck Showalter often states that he prefers to get a player back on the field immediately after a poor showing, rather than let him stew on the bench and question whether the team has lost confidence in him, but De Aza is struggling at the plate.

David Lough, who replaces De Aza in left field and atop the order, is 0-for-5 with three strikeouts in six games since coming off the disabled list. He’s registered a career .238/.284/.315 slash line in 130 career from the leadoff spot.

The Orioles’ .981 fielding percentage ranks 20th in the majors.

Head athletic trainer Richie Bancells is away from the team today and Friday while being honored by Eastern Kentucky University with their Outstanding Alumnus Award for the Department of Exercise and Sport Science.

Nolan Reimold and Rey Navarro homered today for Triple-A Norfolk in a 4-3 win over Gwinnett.

Knuckleballer Eddie Gamboa allowed two runs and seven hits in five innings before Steve Johnson replaced him and threw two scoreless innings to lower his ERA to 1.00 in five games. Oliver Drake surrendered his first run in seven innings but still recorded his second save.

Update: Ryan Flaherty, who has had a nice start to the season with nine hits in 30 at-bats, joins De Aza on the bench tonight. Showalter told reporters earlier today that Flaherty tweaked his right groin running from first base to second on the last play of Wednesday night’s loss and a stint on the disabled list could be in his future.