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TORONTO – Lefty Trevor Rogers (2-10, 4.76 ERA) will make his second O’s start tonight as the Orioles look to even their series with the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. Alejandro Kirk hit a three-run homer off lefty reliever Gregory Soto in the sixth inning last night as Toronto beat the Orioles 5-2.

Now 67-47, the Orioles are a half-game behind the Yankees for the division lead. They are not in first place – tied or alone – for the first time since June 26.

Rogers gave up six hits and five runs over 4 1/3 innings on Thursday at Cleveland in his O’s debut. He threw 94 pitches in that outing at Progressive Field.

In one career start against Toronto, he allowed five hits and three runs in five innings.

The O’s were held to two runs and three hits in the series-opener at Rogers Centre after scoring 16 runs on 30 hits in the last two games at Cleveland. Over their previous 12 games heading into this series, the O’s offense was scoring 6.4 runs per game, batting .291 and with an OPS of .859 as a team. But they went just 3-for-29 last night.

Right-hander Bowden Francis (4-3, 5.64 ERA) will face the O’s in Game 2. He has made four starts and the Blue Jays are 2-2 in those games. One of the wins was last Monday in Game 2 of a doubleheader in Baltimore. He went 5 2/3 innings allowing six hits and three runs on 76 pitches. 

For the Orioles
CF Colton Cowser
RF Anthony Santander
SS Gunnar Henderson
LF Ryan O’Hearn
C Adley Rutschman
1B Ryan Mountcastle
DH Eloy Jiménez
2B Jackson Holliday
3B Coby Mayo

LHP Trevor Rogers

For the Blue Jays
RF George Springer
2B Ernie Clement
3B Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
DH Alejandro Kirk
1B Spencer Horwitz
LF Davis Schneider
CF Daulton Varsho
SS Leo Jiménez
C Brian Serven

RHP Bowden Francis