Blue Jays @ Orioles lineup and game preview

This is the first game since August 9, 2012 (Manny Machado's major league debut) that someone other than Machado will start at third base. That someone is Ryan Flaherty. There are six games left and the Orioles have no shot at the playoffs, and they have to be feeling pretty lousy right now. People are saying that they don't care if the Orioles win any more games this season, but I am not one of those people. I want the Orioles to go out on a high note. They are better than what we've been seeing and I don't want to go into the off season on such a sour note.

Tonight they play the Toronto Blue Jays in the first game of their last home stand of 2013. I, for one, would like to see a sweep.

Lineups

Orioles
1. Brian Roberts (S) 2B
2. Nate McLouth (L) LF
3. Adam Jones (R) CF
4. Chris Davis (L) 1B
5. Matt Wieters (S) C
6. Nick Markakis (L) RF
7. J.J. Hardy (R) SS
8. Dan Johnson (L) DH
9. Ryan Flaherty (L) 3B

Blue Jays
1. Jose Reyes (S) SS
2. Munenori Kawasaki (L) DH
3. Brett Lawrie (R) 3B
4. Adam Lind (L) 1B
5. Moises Sierra (R) RF
6. Anthony Gose (L) CF
7. J.P. Arencibia (R) C
8. Ryan Goins (L) 2B
9. Kevin Pillar (R) LF

Starting Pitchers

Chris Tillman will make his 32nd start of the season tonight. Over the first 31 he has a 3.70 ERA, which is decent, and a 4.47 FIP, which is not. This will be his fifth start of the year against the Jays, which seems a little absurd. In his first four he has pitched 25 2/3 innings with a 3.86 ERA. The Orioles have gone 3-1 in those games. The one loss came on September 14th and Tillman pitched an eight-inning complete game.

Todd Redmond is starting for the Jays. This will be Redmond's third time facing the Orioles this season. Back on September 13th he pitched 6 1/3 innings with just three hits and one strikeout. Hopefully the Orioles do better this time.