Lineups and game notes for Orioles @ Blue Jays - September 26

The Orioles are north of the border for one final time this season as they begin the last series of the regular season. Just don't let anyone get hurt. It was explosive the last time these two teams got together. Baltimore has just three games to get through before they start playoff baseball. Namaste.

Pitchers

RHP Drew Hutchison. Toronto

2014 stats: 10-13, 4.51 ERA, 179.2 IP, 168 H, 23 HR, 59 BB, 176 SO, .246 BAA, 1.26 WHIP
Last start (@ NY Yankees): 4.0 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 6 SO, L
Career against Baltimore: 7 G, 3-1, 2.15 ERA, 46.0 IP, 11 H, 4 HR, 47 SO, 10 BB

Hutchison has a history of superb starts against the O's, but that was broken his last time out when he allowed six earned runs over 6.1 innings to be handed his only loss ever against his AL East foe. However, he did still manage to strikeout 11 Baltimore batters.

Missing bats is something that Toronto's right hander does very well. Right now, he averages 8.8 strikeouts per nine innings pitched in 2014. I would expect that number to inch just a bit closer to nine after tonight.

On top of that, Hutchison does a better job of pitching at Rogers Centre rather than away for it. His ERA at home is 4.11 compared to 4.80 on the road.

RHP Chris Tillman, Baltimore

2014 stats: 13-5, 3.26 ERA, 201.1 IP, 178 H, 21 HR, 66 BB, 145 SO, .232 BAA, 1.21 WHIP
Last start (vs. Boston): 7.0 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 6 SO, W
Career against Toronto: 13 G, 4-5. 3.98 ERA, 83.2 IP, 77 H, 16 HR, 61 SO, 20 BB

He is your starter for game one of the ALDS and for good reason. His ERA is a measly 2.55 in September and he has regained his ability to strike opponents out recently. In his last five starts he has thrown 29.2 innings and struck out 29 batters.

But Tilly doesn't do so well in Toronto. He is 2-3 in seven starts there with a 5.79 ERA over 42.0 innings pitched. The worst part is that he has given up 13 home runs in those innings. So, this may not be the best last impression we get from the righty. Good thing he will be pitching at Camden Yards next week. However...

MASN's Roch Kubatko brought this tidbit to his readers attention earlier today in a blog post. As long as Tillman doesn't lose tonight, he will have the most road starts in a single season without a loss since 1914. It will tie him with Greg Maddux. Both men will have made 15 starts. Tillman is 8-0 on the road this year, Maddux went 13-0.

Lineups

For the Orioles: Jimmy Paredes (2-for-3, 1 HR), Steve Pearce (2-for-7, 1 HR), Jonathan Schoop (1-for-7, 1 HR), Alejandro De Aza (2-for-7), Kelly Johnson (1-for-5, 1 2B), Nick Markakis (5-for-20, 1 2B), J.J. Hardy (3-for-19, 2 2B), David Lough (1-for-6), Nelson Cruz (3-for-18, 1 2B), Adam Jones (3-for-21), Nick Hundley, Ryan Flaherty, Steve Clevenger and Caleb Joseph are a combined 0-for-18.

For the Blue Jays (stats against Tillman): Anthony Gose (5-for-9, 1 2B, 1 3B), Jose Bautista (8-for-25 with 2 2B, 2 HR), Colby Rasmus (6-for-20, 2 2B, 2 HR), Jose Reyes (6-for-18, 2 HR, 1 HR), Dioner Navarro (4-for-11, 1 2B), Edwin Encarnacion (10-for-34, 2 2B, 1 HR), Ryan Goins (2-for-11, 1 HR), Adam Lind (8-for-30), all other active players have mightily struggled with Tillman in small sample sizes.

Notes

• Tillman has allowed 3 ER or fewer in 20 straight starts. It is the second longest streak in Orioles history. The club leader is Dave McNally with 25 such starts back in 1968.
• Tillman has already gotten to 200 innings pitched for the second consecutive season. MASN's own Jim Palmer has the Oriole record of 11 200 inning seasons in the black and orange.
• Daisuke Matsuzaka was the last pitcher to go undeafted on the road for an entire season.
• Only seven pitchers have accomplished this feat since 1914.
• Closer Zach Britton and his wife, Courtney, are expecting the birth of their baby boy in the next two weeks. Yes, in the middle of the playoffs. Don't worry, he has a plan.