Orioles Welcome Blue Jays for Final Series of 2022

Despite being officially eliminated from playoff contention this past weekend, the Baltimore Orioles still took care of business, taking two out of three games from the New York Yankees in the Bronx. Now, it’s time for the last home series of the year to wrap up the regular season, a three game set against the Toronto Blue Jays.

KNOW YOUR OPPONENT

The Blue Jays enter the final series of the regular season in prime position to lock down the top wild card spot in the AL, up 2 1/2 games on the Seattle Mariners with a 90-69 record. Toronto has won six of their last 10 games, and are fresh off a three game sweep of the Boston Red Sox in Canada.

WHO’S HOT?

Ross Stripling is fresh off a six inning shutout start on Saturday, a 10-0 Blue Jays win. Alek Manoah also threw a six inning shutout performance on Friday night, with Toronto winning 9-0. George Springer had four RBI’s in the last three games, with Vladimir Guerrero Jr driving in three runs. Danny Jansen drove in five runs on Saturday, with Teoscar Hernandez coming off a five RBI weekend with a couple home runs.

LAST MEETING

The Orioles and Blue Jays last met in the middle of September, with the Blue Jays taking two out of three games, winning 6-3 both times. The Orioles won the final game of the series 5-4. The season series is at an even 8-8 split entering the final three games of the season.

PITCHING PROBABLES

Monday, 10/3: Jose Berrios vs Dean Kremer

The series opener pits Berrios against Kremer. Berrios enters his final start of the season with a 11-7 record to go with a 5.37 ERA and 4.61 FIP in 166 innings this season. Berrios is coming off a five run start against the Yankees, lasting 5 1/3 innings in a Blue Jays loss.

Baltimore Orioles/Toronto Blue Jays Series Preview

Kremer enters his final start of the season with a 8-6 record along with a 3.17 ERA, 1.257 WHIP, and 3.77 FIP in 20 starts and one relief appearance, totaling 119 1/3 innings. Kremer was charged with a loss in his last start, allowing 3 runs in 5 innings against the Boston Red Sox.

Tuesday, 10/4: Mitch White vs Mike Baumann

White gets the start for the Blue Jays in the second to last game of their season, having made 8 starts and one relief appearance with the Jays since coming over from the Los Angeles Dodgers. White has a 7.38 ERA in 39 innings in his brief stint with Toronto, having allowed 3 runs in 3 2/3 innings in his previous start, a 8-3 Blue Jays loss against the Yankees.

It’s Baumann starting opposite White in the middle game for the Orioles. Recently added to the rotation after Tyler Wells went down with injury, Baumann has a 4.34 ERA in 29 innings over three starts and 12 total appearances for the Orioles this season. He was charged with two runs in 4 innings in his last start against the Red Sox in a 5-3 Orioles loss.

Wednesday, 10/5: TBD vs TBD

Neither team has announced a starter for the series and season finale, but FanGraphs has a projected matchup of Yusei Kikuchi for Toronto, and Jordan Lyles for the Orioles. Kikuchi has had a rough go of it this season, with a 5.27 ERA and 5.70 FIP in 99 innings, spread across 20 starts and 11 relief appearances. He last saw action on Friday night against the Red Sox, pitching three scoreless innings in a shutout Blue Jays win.

Lyles is looking to end his season, and possibly his Orioles tenure, on a high note. He has a 12-11 record with a 4.42 ERA, 1.385 WHIP, and 4.40 FIP, throwing 179 innings in 32 starts in 2022. Lyles turned in a beauty in his last outing, allowing just one run while striking out nine hitters in seven shutout innings in a 2-1 Orioles win on Friday against the Yankees.