Taking a look at tonight's starting pitchers

In the life of Orioles right-hander Mike Wright, no start comes with a guarantee that another one will follow in five or six days.

Wright is back on the mound tonight, making his first trip to Toronto. His major league career began with 14 1/3 scoreless innings, but he's allowed 10 runs and 14 hits in his last two starts over nine innings.

Wright walked three batters in his last outing against the Yankees, but they came in succession to open the fifth inning. Brian Matusz replaced him with no outs and all three inherited runners scored on a walk and two-out double.

wright-pitching-white-sidebar.jpgRight-handers are batting .189 against Wright, but left-handers are hitting .309. The Blue Jays rank 12th in the majors with a .258 average against right-handers and first with a .309 average against left-handers.

If you're looking for Wei-Yin Chen, he'll be in Frederick this weekend.

The Orioles need to create a spot on the roster Saturday for Kevin Gausman, who comes off the disabled list to start against the Blue Jays. Wright understands that he's a candidate to be sent down, since he won't be available for four days, the Orioles are off Monday and Miguel Gonzalez is expected to be activated from the DL on Thursday in Boston. Chen is slated to start next Friday against the Indians at Camden Yards.

Making room for Gonzalez and Chen presents another challenge for executive vice president Dan Duquette and manager Buck Showalter. Right-hander Tyler Wilson could be optioned, but the Orioles also will need to remove a position player.

In his first season with the Blue Jays, Marco Estrada is 4-3 with a 4.24 ERA in 14 games (eight starts). He's allowed eight home runs in 57 1/3 innings after leading the majors last season with 29 in 150 2/3.

The Orioles already have faced Estrada three times this season, twice during his relief appearances. He worked the ninth inning on April 10, allowing a home run to Jonathan Schoop, and again on April 21, permitting one hit and striking out the side.

In a May 11 start, Estrada allowed three runs and five hits in five innings. Manny Machado hit a leadoff home run - he's been known to do that - and Chris Davis added a two-run shot in the first, as the Orioles posted a 5-2 victory at Camden Yards.

Estrada was 0-3 with a 5.02 ERA in five starts in May. He's 3-0 with a 5.00 ERA in three starts this month. So, again, don't place too much emphasis on a pitcher's win-loss record.

The current Orioles are 10-for-51 against Estrada. Travis Snider, who's struck out in his last five at-bats, is 1-for-12 with seven strikeouts vs. Estrada. Steve Pearce is 3-for-9 with a triple and four RBIs. Jimmy Paredes is 2-for-5 with three strikeouts.

J.J. Hardy is batting .390 (16-for-41) with three doubles and six RBIs during his 11-game hitting streak that began on June 7. He's 0-for-2 against Estrada.

Pearce, batting .210/.281/.362, has started once since June 11. He's totaled five plate appearances in that span.

He could return to the lineup Saturday against Blue Jays left-hander Mark Buehrle.




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