**Join us in the Orange Crush live chat at 7:00 as the Orioles welcome the Toronto Blue Jays to town in the opener of a three-game set with rookie Zach Britton taking the hill in search of his sixth win.**
BALTIMORE — After a forgettable 1-5 West Coast trip, the Orioles return home to host the Toronto Blue Jays in the first series between the teams in 2011.
The Orioles (25-29) can only try to forget about the nightmarish 3-15 showing against Toronto (28-28) a year ago in which the Blue Jays took the first 12 before Baltimore could finally taste victory. Thankfully, this weekend’s series will be played in the friendly confines of Camden Yards and not Rogers Centre where the Orioles have dropped 14 straight games and 23 of their last 25.
Rookie Zach Britton will take the hill in search of his elusive sixth win after giving up a career-high six earned runs in his last start against Oakland. His last win came on May 1 against the Chicago White Sox.
The Orioles received a brief scare prior to the game when Felix Pie fouled a ball off his foot during batting practice. He limped into the tunnel with trainer Richie Bancells, but the left fielder deemed himself well enough to play and will occupy the leadoff spot despite not having a walk all season.
In injury-related news, first baseman Derrek Lee will make a rehab start for Double-A Bowie tonight, serving as the designated hitter and leading off for the Baysox. There is no firm date for his return, but the veteran appears close to returning to the Baltimore lineup.
Here are tonight’s starting lineups:
Toronto
SS Yunel Escobar
LF Corey Patterson
RF Jose Bautista
1B Juan Rivera
C J.P. Arencibia
2B Aaron Hill
DH Edwin Encarnacion
CF Rajai Davis
3B Jayson Nix
SP Carlos Villanueva (2-0, 2.62 ERA)
Baltimore
LF Felix Pie
CF Adam Jones
RF Nick Markakis
DH Vladimir Guerrero
C Matt Wieters
SS J.J. Hardy
1B Luke Scott
3B Mark Reynolds
2B Robert Andino
SP Zach Britton (5-3, 2.93 ERA)
As we do for every weeknight home game, join us in the Orange Crush live chat beginning at 7:00. Talk about the game with us as an array of WNST.net personalities visit the cyber sports bar throughout the evening! Be sure to follow us on Twitter (@WNST) for the latest updates and analysis regarding the happenings from Oriole Park at Camden Yards!
