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TORONTO – The Orioles’ latest road trip – an all American League East affair – begins tonight at Rogers Centre as the Toronto Blue Jays (25-19) host the Orioles (28-16) to start a three-game series.

The Orioles just split a four-game series with the Los Angles Angels while Toronto was losing three of four to the New York Yankees at home.

Tonight’s lineup shows rookie Joey Ortiz making his first MLB start at third base. Ortiz has eight career starts on the farm at third base, two this year for Triple-A Norfolk, two last year and four in the 2021 season. 

Tampa Bay (32-13) is leading the division by 3 1/2 games over the Orioles, by 6 1/2 over Toronto and New York and by 7 1/2 over Boston.

The Orioles went 2-8 in Toronto in 2021 and 5-5 last year.

Baltimore has won six of nine games, 19 of 28 and 24 of the last 35.

Righ-hander Kyle Gibson (4-3, 4.67 ERA) gets tonight’s start for the Orioles. The Birds are 5-4 in his starts this season and he is 2-1 with a 6.04 ERA in five road games.

Lefty Yusei Kikuchi (5-0, 3.89 ERA) will make his ninth start for Toronto, which is 7-1 in his previous eight. But Kikuchi has allowed five runs twice in his past three starts and has an 5.52 ERA in that span.

The Orioles play here through Sunday and then head to the Bronx for a series at Yankee Stadium beginning Tuesday night.

For the Orioles

CF Cedric Mullins
C Adley Rutschman
1B Ryan Mountcastle
DH Anthony Santander
LF Austin Hays
RF Ryan McKenna
SS Jorge Mateo
2B Adam Frazier
3B Joey Ortiz

RHP Kyle Gibson