Opposite dugout: Blue Jays take powerful bats into Baltimore

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  Josh Land

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  April 10, 2014 1:58 pm

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Manager: John Gibbons, second year
Record: 5-5
Last 10 games: 5-5
Who to watch: RF Jose Bautista (.233/.452/.667, 4 HR, 6 RBIs); LF Melky Cabrera (.333/.333/.644, 4 HR, 5 RBIs); LHP Mark Buehrle (2-0, 0.64 ERA, 14 IP, 14 K, 2 BB); RHP Sergio Santos (3 saves, 2.70 ERA)
Season series vs. O’s (2013): 9-10, 97 runs scored, 94 runs allowed

Pitching probables
April 11: Dustin McGowan vs. Chris Tillman, 7 p.m., MASN2 HD
April 12: Drew Hutchison vs. Bud Norris, 7 p.m., MASN2 HD
April 13: Mark Buehrle…Manager: John Gibbons, second year
Record: 5-5
Last 10 games: 5-5
Who to watch: RF Jose Bautista (.233/.452/.667, 4 HR, 6 RBIs); LF Melky Cabrera (.333/.333/.644, 4 HR, 5 RBIs); LHP Mark Buehrle (2-0, 0.64 ERA, 14 IP, 14 K, 2 BB); RHP Sergio Santos (3 saves, 2.70 ERA)
Season series vs. O’s (2013): 9-10, 97 runs scored, 94 runs allowed

Pitching probables
April 11: Dustin McGowan vs. Chris Tillman, 7 p.m., MASN2 HD
April 12: Drew Hutchison vs. Bud Norris, 7 p.m., MASN2 HD
April 13: Mark Buehrle vs. Ubaldo Jimenez, 1:30 p.m., MASN2 HD

Series breakdown
The Blue Jays might be .500 and they might hit .223 as a team, but when they connect with the ball, it travels a long way.

Toronto ranks second in the American League with 12 homers through 10 games, led by four apiece from outfielders Jose Bautista and Melky Cabrera.

That has helped make up for mediocre pitching, as Toronto ranks 20th in the majors with a 4.30 ERA. The rotation has been even worse, ranking 25th with a 4.75 ERA.

However, the Blue Jays have boasted one of the league’s best starters in left-hander Mark Buehrle, who has permitted just one run while striking out 14 and walking two in 14 innings on the way to opening 2-0. He goes up against the Orioles’ Ubaldo Jimenez in an intriguing pitching matchup on Sunday afternoon.

The Jays play their first series at Baltimore after winning two of three from the Astros. Watch out for the longball as two of the AL’s most powerful lineups go head to head at Camden Yards, traditionally one of baseball’s best launching pads.