masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgWith the Orioles and Blue Jays set to begin a crucial three-game series at Rogers Centre, how much will the bullpens factor into the outcomes and better shape the wild card picture?
Orioles relievers rank second in the American League and fourth in the majors with a 3.42 ERA. The Jays rank 21st with a 4.09 ERA.
The Orioles batted .215 and averaged 3.1 runs on their 11-game homestand, finishing 5-6, but the bullpen posted a 0.82 ERA by allowing four earned runs in 44 innings. The rotation posted…

With the Orioles and Blue Jays set to begin a crucial three-game series at Rogers Centre, how much will the bullpens factor into the outcomes and better shape the wild card picture?

Orioles relievers rank second in the American League and fourth in the majors with a 3.42 ERA. The Jays rank 21st with a 4.09 ERA.

The Orioles batted .215 and averaged 3.1 runs on their 11-game homestand, finishing 5-6, but the bullpen posted a 0.82 ERA by allowing four earned runs in 44 innings. The rotation posted a 4.66 ERA.

Closer Zach Britton has carried his historic season across the border. He made it through customs again.

Britton has converted 48 straight save chances dating to October 2015, the longest streak in the majors. His 0.56 ERA, with four earned runs over 64 1/3 innings, leads all relievers.

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, only two other pitchers in major league history have registered an ERA below 1.00 and converted 40 or more save opportunities – Dennis Eckersley in 1990 (0.61 ERA and 48 saves) and Fernando Rodney in 2012 (0.60 ERA and 48 saves).

Trivia: Who’s the only player this season to homer off Britton? Answer below.

Britton has made six appearances against the Blue Jays this season, shutting them out on two hits over seven innings. He’s tossed three scoreless innings at Rogers Centre.

Britton is 3-1 with a 2.16 ERA in 24 career games, including three starts, against the Blue Jays. He’s 1-0 with a 1.02 ERA in 10 games (one start) in Toronto, allowing two runs in 17 2/3 innings.

The current group of Blue Jays are batting .207 against Britton. Michael Saunders is 1-for-11 with a home run, Edwin Encarnacion is 4-for-14 with a double, Josh Donaldson is 1-for-7 with a home run and Jose Bautista is 2-for-9.

O'Day-Sidewinding-Gray-Sidebar.jpgDarren O’Day is healthy again and primed for another matchup with Bautista. Always worth the price of admission.

Bautista is 7-for-18 with four home runs, nine RBIs, six walks, five strikeouts and one huge grudge against O’Day. Encarnacion is 2-for-16, Melvin Upton Jr. is 0-for-16 with six strikeouts, Russell Martin is 2-for-13 and Josh Donaldson is 3-for-13 with seven strikeouts.

Donaldson is 5-for-11 with three doubles against Brad Brach, so keep it in mind if the right-hander is needed to carry a lead to O’Day or Britton. Michael Saunders is 4-for-6 with two doubles and a home run, Encarnacion is 3-for-13 with a double and home run, Bautista is 2-for-7 with a home run, Kevin Pillar is 2-for-11 and Troy Tulowitzki is 3-for-6.

Brach has allowed only three of 27 inherited runners to score this season.

The Jays are batting .293 against Tommy Hunter. Another matchup to watch: Encarnacion is 11-for-26 with two doubles and three home runs against him.

Saunders is 5-for-14 with a double and five strikeouts and Pillar is 4-for-7.

The Jays are batting .209 (9-for-43) against Mychal Givens. Martin is 2-for-3 with a double, home run and five strikeouts. Encarnacion and Bautista are a combined 0-for-9.

Encarnacion is batting .293/.417/.586 with five doubles, four home runs, 12 RBIs and 12 walks in 16 games against the Orioles this season. His 33 career doubles and 34 home runs are his highest totals against any team.

Answer: Mookie Betts hit a leadoff home run off Britton in the ninth inning of an April 11 game at Fenway Park. The Orioles won 9-7.