masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgAfter a 4-6 road trip that ended with two walk-off losses in the last three games, the Orioles return home for a six-game, two-team homestand that will lead them into the All-Star break.
Two homestands ago, the Orioles went 5-3 against the Twins, Indians and Mets. Last homestand, they went 1-5 against the Blue Jays and Astros. They won the first game of that homestand but lost the last five. They are 12-26 at home for the season.
The Orioles are 10-23 versus American League East opponents,…

After a 4-6 road trip that ended with two walk-off losses in the last three games, the Orioles return home for a six-game, two-team homestand that will lead them into the All-Star break.

Two homestands ago, the Orioles went 5-3 against the Twins, Indians and Mets. Last homestand, they went 1-5 against the Blue Jays and Astros. They won the first game of that homestand but lost the last five. They are 12-26 at home for the season.

The Orioles are 10-23 versus American League East opponents, including a 2-5 record versus Toronto.

Thumbnail image for Oriole-Park-at-Camden-Yards-Warehouse-Sidebar.jpgRight-hander Spenser Watkins will make his second major league appearance and first start tonight in the series opener. Called up June 30 to provide a fresh bullpen arm, Watkins made his major league debut on Friday night at Anaheim. He pitched a scoreless inning, getting three outs spread over two innings.

It was a successful debut for a pitcher that spent eight years and more than 600 innings pitching in the minor leagues. Watkins spent most of his career with the Detroit organization. The Tigers selected him in round 30 of the 2014 draft out of Western Oregon University. The Orioles signed him Feb. 3 as a minor league free agent.

This year at Triple-A Norfolk, he has gone 1-2 with a 3.58 ERA over 32 2/3 innings with a .205 opponent batting average and a 1.10 WHIP. He pitched to an ERA of 2.89 in his last four Tides games.

Left-hander Steven Matz (7-3, 4.60 ERA) gets the start for the Blue Jays. Over 14 starts, he has thrown 72 1/3 innings, allowing 78 hits and 10 homers with 21 walks and 78 strikeouts. He has recorded a 1.369 WHIP with a 2.6 walk rate and 9.7 strikeout rate. The Blue Jays are 7-7 in his 14 starts.

In three starts in June, Matz is 1-1 with a 6.39 ERA, allowing nine runs over 12 2/3 innings with six walks and 14 strikeouts. For the season, lefties hit .263 with an OPS of .703 off him and right-handers bat .272/.784. He is 6-1 with a 3.43 ERA and 1.030 WHIP in eight road starts.

Toronto (43-39) is in third place in the AL East, but nine games behind first-place Boston. The Blue Jays have won five of eight and 10 of 14 games. They are 13-11 in the last 24 games. Toronto is 19-19 against AL East foes and has won seven of its last nine in the division.

The Blue Jays are starting a six-game, all-AL East road trip tonight. They’ve gone 24-19 on the road and the 43 road games are tied for the third-most among AL teams . Toronto batters have hit .254 in road games, the second-best mark in the majors, while scoring 4.65 runs/game (seventh in the AL) with 59 road home runs (tied for third). The pitching staff has kept an AL-best 1.16 WHIP during away affairs to go with a .223 opponent average (second in the AL) and a 3.67 ERA (third).

Orioles starting pitchers have worked the fewest innings in the majors, tossing 381 1/3 innings. Second-fewest is 396 by Kansas City. O’s starters have failed to complete six innings in 11 straight games and since June 1 (30 games) and O’s starters have completed at least six innings twice, June 19 versus Toronto (Dean Kremer) and June 22 against Houston (Jorge López).

Cedric Mullins and Trey Mancini will have company next week in Denver. Orioles strength and conditioning coach Joe Hogarty will also be in Denver for the All-Star Game. Hogarty was named as part of the AL staff earlier today.