MLB Game Preview - Toronto at Baltimore
Thu Aug 1, 2019 7:05 PM EDT

MIN
4
MIA
5
F(12)
SF
2
PHI
10
F
NYM
4
CHW
0
F
MIL
3
OAK
5
F
TOR
11
BAL
2
F
TB
9
BOS
4
F
HOU
7
CLE
1
F
CHC
0
STL
8
F
CIN
1
ATL
4
F
SD
2
LAD
8
F
After sweeping Royals, Jays face Orioles next
Thu Aug 1, 2019 2:07 AM

The visiting Toronto Blue Jays and the Baltimore Orioles, two teams trying to rebuild, will meet for the start of a four-game series on Thursday night.

Toronto comes to town after sweeping a three-game series from the Kansas City Royals, capped by a 4-1 victory Wednesday afternoon. But the Blue Jays were much busier off the field, doing business before the 4 p.m. Eastern trade deadline.

They traded major league pitchers Aaron Sanchez and Joe Biagini and minor league outfielder Cal Stevenson to Houston for outfielder Derek Fisher. Also, the Blue Jays sent pitcher Daniel Hudson to Washington in exchange for minor league pitcher Kyle Johnston.

Fisher, a former first-round draft pick, has just a .201 average over parts of three seasons in the majors, but he's the man Toronto wanted.

"We've targeted Derek Fisher for some time," Toronto general manager Ross Atkins told MLB.com. "He's come up in a number of discussions and we tried to get him. We had an opportunity to get him in what we viewed was a creative way, in adding Joe Biagini and Cal Stevenson."

Also, the Jays traded away pitchers Marcus Stroman and David Phelps plus infielder Eric Sogard in deals earlier in the week.

And another new face helped the Blue Jays in their three-game sweep of the Royals -- Bo Bichette. He made his major league debut in this series and went 6-for-13, including a career-first home run as he went 3-for-5 on Wednesday.

A second-round pick in the 2016 draft, the son of former major-leaguer Dante Bichette made a quick name for himself as the Jays were delighted with his hitting skills.

Also, pitcher Ryan Borucki went on the injured list Wednesday (bone spur in elbow). Toronto called up left-hander Buddy Boshers to replace him.

Trent Thornton (3-7, 5.45 ERA) gets the start for the Jays in Thursday's game. He is coming off of the injured list (elbow inflammation) and is 1-1 with a 2.45 ERA in two starts versus Baltimore in his career.

The Orioles had not listed a starter as of Wednesday night.

Baltimore was not nearly as active as the Blue Jays at the trade deadline, which was a bit of a surprise. Many thought the Orioles might be wheeling and dealing a bit, but Baltimore just made one minor swap.

The Orioles sent pitcher Dan Straily to the Philadelphia Phillies for cash in their only move since trading Andrew Cashner to the Red Sox earlier in the month.

Baltimore is coming off of its best month of the season. The team split two games in San Diego, the last a come-from-behind 8-5 victory Tuesday. The Orioles took five of nine games in a tough swing through Arizona, Los Angeles (Angels) and San Diego.

That let Baltimore finish the month at 12-12. The Orioles went just 6-20 in June but got much better hitting and pitching all the way through July despite losing Cashner and now John Means, who has a bicep strain but should be back next week.

"For our guys to compete the way they did these last three series on the road is really impressive," Baltimore manager Brandon Hyde told MLB.com after the last game in San Diego. "I like the way our guys are sticking together. I think our dugout is unbelievable. I think some of our young guys are getting better."

The schedule doesn't get any easier for the Orioles. After Toronto, they get the Yankees, then Houston, then the Yankees again, then Boston.

--Field Level Media

Team Record Comparison

Team Standings GB W-L Aw/Hm Stk L10
Toronto            
Baltimore            

Scheduled Starting Pitchers

Trent Thornton - SEA
Matchup
Season
vs. Opp Has not pitched vs. Baltimore
Asher Wojciechowski - (N/A)
Matchup
Season
vs. Opp Has not pitched vs. Toronto

Hot Batters (Last 10 team games)

Injury Report

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