Preview: Blue Jays (91-65) at Orioles (76-80)
Game: 3
Venue: Oriole Park at Camden Yards
Date: September 30, 2015 7:35 PM EDT
A little over a year ago, the Toronto Blue Jays had to watch the Baltimore Orioles celebrate a long-awaited division title at Camden Yards.
Their chance to exact some revenge has arrived.
With a magic number of one, the Blue Jays need only a win in either game of their doubleheader against the Orioles on Wednesday to clinch their first AL East title in 22 years.
Toronto (91-65) lowered its magic number to two by rallying for a series-opening 4-3 victory Monday. Although Tuesday's game was postponed by rain, the Blue Jays moved even closer to a division title with New York's 10-4 loss to Boston.
The chance to celebrate in Baltimore is only fitting after the Orioles (76-80) wrapped up their first East crown since 1997 with an 8-2 victory over the Blue Jays on Sept. 16, 2014.
Toronto, which has won five in a row, could even clinch the division if it drops both games, provided the Yankees lose again to the Red Sox.
'They should be very proud of the work they've done this year,' Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. 'They made some good acquisitions, good trades, good free agent signings. They added some really key, good pieces. Just like we did last year and tried to do this year.'
Also on the Blue Jays' agenda is finishing with the best record in the AL and securing home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. They are 1 1/2 games ahead of Kansas City.
'Yeah, we'd love to do that. I think that would be very important,' manager John Gibbons said.
Baltimore has been eliminated from playoff contention and needs to win its final six games to post a fourth straight winning season.
An anemic offense has been the biggest problem lately for the Orioles, who have scored in just one of their last 37 innings. All their runs in the past four games came in the second inning Monday on Ryan Flaherty's three-run homer.
'Part of that is you have to credit the other guy who is on the mound,' catcher Matt Wieters said. 'We've had some tough pitchers."
Producing runs won't get any easier with Marcus Stroman (3-0, 1.89 ERA) on the mound for Toronto in the opener.
The right-hander has provided a huge boost since making his season debut this month. He's been outstanding in his past two starts, allowing one run and 11 hits over 14 innings in beating Boston and the Yankees. Stroman limited New York to five hits over seven innings in a 4-0 victory last Wednesday.
He makes his first start against the Orioles since Sept. 15, 2014, when he threw at catcher Caleb Joseph, drawing a five-game suspension. Stroman pitched four scoreless innings in relief against Baltimore 11 days later to earn his first career save.
Miguel Gonzalez (9-11, 4.85) opposes Stroman as he returns to the mound after missing a month with shoulder tendinitis.
The right-hander is 0-5 with a 7.46 ERA in seven starts since his last win July 25. He lost his third consecutive start in his last appearance Aug. 30 at Texas.
Home wins have been even harder to come by for Gonzalez, who is 0-4 with a 6.81 ERA in seven outings at Camden Yards since May 19.
Gonzalez, though, will be facing one of his favorite opponents. He allowed one unearned run over 7 2-3 innings in a 6-1 win over the Blue Jays on May 13, improving to 5-0 with a 0.98 ERA in his last six meetings.
Edwin Encarnacion is 3 for 25 in this matchup, but each of those hits left the park.
R.A. Dickey (11-11, 4.00) gets the call in the nightcap for Toronto. He earned his 100th win Friday, allowing two runs and four hits over seven innings in a 5-3 victory over Tampa Bay. Dickey retired 18 of the final 19 batters he faced, including 11 straight.
The knuckleballer is 8-1 with a 2.95 ERA in the second half but has posted a 6.08 ERA in his last four road starts.
Dickey is 0-4 with a 5.30 ERA in his last six outings against the Orioles, though the last three have been quality starts.
Gerardo Parra is 6 for 9 with four extra-base hits in this matchup.
Kevin Gausman (3-7, 4.49) starts the second game for Baltimore. This has been a disappointing season for the right-hander, with a trip to the disabled list, time in the minors and only three wins in 16 starts.
After pitching six scoreless innings in a win over Boston on Sept. 14, Gausman allowed nine runs and 13 hits over 11 innings in his next two starts.
He didn't receive a decision at Toronto on June 20 after yielding two runs in five innings.
Gausman has held Encarnacion and Jose Bautista to a combined 0 for 17 lifetime.
