Brandon Young (3-1, 3.35) gets the ball for Baltimore against Trey Yesavage (2-2, 2.19) at 7:07 PM ET from Rogers Centre. It's a rematch of last Saturday's meeting at Camden Yards, where both guys went head-to-head and walked away with no-decisions in a 9-5 O's win.
The pitching matchup looks tidy on the surface, but Yesavage's last start should make Toronto sweat. He gave up only 2 hits and 1 earned run across 5 innings against this same Orioles lineup — and walked 7 to do it. Seven. He needed 92 pitches to get 15 outs. That kind of command night usually doesn't survive a second look from the same hitters a week later.
Young, meanwhile, has quietly become the steadiest arm in Baltimore's rotation, which says as much about the rotation as it does about him. He went 6.2 with 7 K and 1 walk against Toronto in that same May 30 game. With Chris Bassitt back in Baltimore getting his back looked at and Dean Kremer, Cade Povich and Zach Eflin all parked on the IL, the Orioles need Young to keep being the answer.
Toronto's injury list is the real story here. Max Scherzer, Dylan Cease and Shane Bieber are all rehabbing. Alejandro Kirk could be back from the thumb injury early next week per John Schneider, but he's not walking through that door tonight. The Jays are running out a patched-together roster against a team that just put a 9-spot on them five days ago.
- Day-To-DayChris Bassitt SP — Bassitt has flown back to Baltimore to have his injured back examined by team doctors, Andy Kostka of TheBanner.com reports.
- Day-To-DayLevi Wells P — Wells underwent successful core-muscle surgery Thursday, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.
- Day-To-DayRichard Guasch SP — no
- Day-To-DayWill Robertson LF — The Orioles reassigned Robertson to minor-league camp Wednesday, Jacob Calvin Meyer of The Baltimore Sun reports.
- 10-Day-ILDylan Beavers RF — Beavers (oblique) hit in the batting cage Wednesday, Matt Weyrich of The Baltimore Sun reports.
- 15-Day-ILRyan Helsley RP — Helsley (elbow) said Sunday that he's scheduled to complete a few more bullpen sessions and will gradually ramp up the intensity of his throwing before he resumes facing hitters, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.
- 15-Day-ILCade Povich SP — Povich (elbow) met with Dr. Keith Meister on Tuesday and is without an official timetable for his return after receiving a cortisone injection, Matt Weyrich of The Baltimore Sun reports.
- 60-Day-ILDean Kremer SP — The Orioles transferred Kremer (quadriceps) to the 60-day injured list Friday, MLB.com reports.
- Day-To-DayGeovanny Jesus Planchart C — no
- Day-To-DayChay Yeager RP — Yeager will undergo season-ending UCL surgery on his right elbow Wednesday, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.
- Day-To-DayCJ Stubbs C — The Blue Jays signed Stubbs to a minor-league contract Friday that includes an invitation to spring training.
- Day-To-DayJaven Coleman P — no
- 10-Day-ILAddison Barger RF — Barger (elbow) has been hitting in the batting cage at Toronto's complex in Dunedin, Florida, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.
- 10-Day-ILLenyn Sosa 2B — Sosa went 2-for-5 with a solo home run, an additional run and an additional RBI on Saturday against the Twins in an 11-4 victory.
- 15-Day-ILMax Scherzer SP — Scherzer (forearm/ankle/thumb) expects to make his next rehab start with Triple-A Buffalo on Friday, Mitch Bannon of The Athletic reports.
- 15-Day-ILTommy Nance RP — Nance (forearm) threw live batting practice Tuesday, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Baltimore swept the 2-game set in Camden and took 2 of 3 in Boston this week. That's a club that finally looks like the preseason version everyone was buying. If Young keeps the Toronto bats honest and the Jays' lineup keeps slogging without Kirk, this one tilts to the visitors — and the AL East gets even more interesting at the bottom of the standings.