Wednesday night Orioles game thread: at Blue Jays, 7:07 PM

If it feels like the 2021 Orioles are just constantly having to end long losing streaks, you’re not wrong.

Last week the O’s snapped a 19-game losing streak, the second-longest in club history and longest in the majors since 2005. Earlier this year, they suffered a 14-game losing streak. From early May to late June, they lost 20 straight road games, a streak they finally snapped against the Blue Jays on June 25, and just yesterday they were carrying another 10-game road losing streak before again beating Toronto.

Whew. Did I cover everything?

Tonight, the Orioles have a chance to snap yet another streak. They’ve gone five straight road series without a series win since taking two out of three in Kansas City from July 16-18. Taking down the Blue Jays in tonight’s rubber game would put an end to that, and it would also mark the Orioles’ first road series win against an AL East opponent since their surprising, season-opening three-game sweep in Boston.

If you were a fan of the 2015-18 New York Mets, have I got the pitching matchup for you tonight! Two former starters from that staff, Matt Harvey and Steven Matz, will go toe-to-toe in this game. Harvey is coming off a start against the Rays in which he allowed three runs in the first inning and then retired the final 16 batters he faced. He’s faced the Blue Jays three times this year and failed to turn in a quality start, getting ripped for 13 runs in 13.2 innings. Matz will be making his second start against the Orioles; he gave up four runs (three earned) in four innings July 6.

The O’s made a couple of September call-ups to supplement their bullpen, recalling Alexander Wells and Dusten Knight to bring their roster to the maximum 28 players.

Orioles lineup:

CF Cedric Mullins
DH Ryan Mountcastle
LF Austin Hays
1B Trey Mancini
3B Ramon Urias
RF Anthony Santander
SS Jorge Mateo
2B Jahmai Jones
C Austin Wynns

RHP Matt Harvey

Blue Jays lineup:

DH George Springer
2B Marcus Semien
1B Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
SS Bo Bichette
CF Teoscar Hernandez
C Alejandro Kirk
RF Corey Dickerson
LF Lourdes Gurriel Jr.
3B Breyvic Valera

LHP Steven Matz