Tonight's game and pitching matchups in Toronto

The Orioles will attempt tonight to stay focused on playing baseball and perhaps completing their first three-game sweep of the Royals in five years.

They'll also enjoy having Manny Machado in their lineup for as long as the commissioner's office allows.

Chris Tillman hasn't lost since April 14, but he's followed seven consecutive quality starts with two that fell short. He's allowed nine runs and 12 hits over 11 2/3 innings, with five walks and eight strikeouts.

Most curious, he's surrendered six home runs in his last two starts and eight in his last four. He gave up only one in his first eight starts.

tillman-pitching-black-alcs.jpgTillman's ERA has climbed from 2.61 to 3.33 in his last two outings, and he's facing a team that's been a challenge for him. He's 2-3 with a 6.25 ERA in seven career starts against the Royals.

Tillman went 0-1 with a 6.35 ERA in two starts against the Royals in 2015, allowing eight runs and 13 hits in 11 1/3 innings.

Alcides Escobar is 6-for-19 with a double and home run against Tillman. Kendrys Morales is 5-for-13 with a double, but Eric Hosmer is 2-for-13.

Edinson Volquez is 5-5 with a 4.03 ERA and 1.412 WHIP this season in 12 starts over 73 2/3 innings. He's 3-2 with a 2.38 ERA in seven home games and 2-3 with a 6.67 ERA in five road games.

Volzquez is 0-2 with a 5.40 ERA and 1.750 WHIP in four career starts against the Orioles spanning 20 innings. In his only start at Camden Yards, he allowed four runs and seven hits, with five walks, in only 4 1/3 innings.

The current group is 9-for-32 against him. Adam Jones is 4-for-9 with two home runs, Matt Wieters is 2-for-4 with two doubles and Mark Trumbo is 2-for-3.

Pedro Alvarez is 0-for-9 with four walks and five strikeouts.

Right-handers are batting .292 against Volquez this season and left-handers are batting .241. It's another reverse-splits guy.

Meanwhile, the Blue Jays are listing the following pitching matchups for the four-game series at Rogers Centre:

Thursday: Tyler Wilson vs. Marcus Stromen
Friday: Kevin Gausman vs. Marco Estrada
Saturday: Mike Wright vs. J.A. Happ
Sunday: Ubaldo Jimenez vs. Aaron Sanchez

Jimenez pitched last night, failed to impress his manager and again was in danger of losing his spot in the rotation, especially with Yovani Gallardo also pitching yesterday at Triple-A Norfolk in his second injury rehab start.

The Orioles could slot Gallardo in the rotation somewhere else or have him make one more start in the minors. That's assuming the Orioles are committed to starting Jimenez on Sunday.

Note: Single-A Frederick pitcher Matthew Grimes has been named the Carolina League's Player of the Month for May.

Grimes, 24, went 5-1 with a 1.12 ERA in six starts. He allowed five earned runs in 40 1/3 innings.

Grimes was so good, he moved beyond the pitching award.




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