There’s no reason for the Baltimore Orioles to panic, but they sure would like to pick up the pace.
Coming off a challenging road trip, they open a homestand with Friday night’s game against the Toronto Blue Jays in the first of a three-game set.
“I don’t think it’s urgency right now,” Baltimore manager Brandon Hyde said. “It’s a little bit of frustration.”
The teams opened the season by splitting four games in Toronto. Since then, the Orioles haven’t gained much traction and have yet to win back-to-back games.
“We’re off to a slow start, grinding,” Hyde said. “We’re having a tough time putting everything together. We’ve just got to keep working. It’s a talented team. We’re not playing to our full potential right now.”
The Orioles returned from a 2-3 trip with stops in Kansas City and Arizona. They lost 9-0 on Wednesday at Arizona.
“I don’t think there’s any level of concern,” Baltimore infielder Jackson Holliday said. “It’s frustrating to lose. It’s only 13 games (into the season), and we have a whole lot more.”
The Blue Jays will be in the eighth game of a 10-game road trip after a 4-3, 10-inning loss Thursday in Boston.
Tyler Heineman racked up three hits for Toronto, but the Blue Jays had a three-game winning streak end. There have been offensive glitches for the team.
In the past seven games, Toronto has scored more than two runs in nine innings only twice. Manager John Schneider had a parting shot after Thursday’s result.
“It’s tough to battle nine hitters and an umpire,” Schneider said. “I’ve got all the respect in the world for them, but it wasn’t a great day for him behind the plate.”
Right-hander Tomoyuki Sugano (1-1, 2.89 ERA) will be the starter for the Orioles, making his first appearance at Camden Yards. The 35-year-old picked up his first career victory Saturday at Kansas City.
“I was a little more patient and comfortable,” Sugano said.
He made his big-league debut March 30 at Toronto, giving up two runs on four hits and two walks and getting tagged with the loss.
Hyde said he liked the progress for Sugano from the first start to the next, when he gave up one run in 5 1/3 innings at Kansas City.
“He looked really comfortable, looked relaxed,” Hyde said. “He competed really well. Was more like himself.”
For Sugano, the goal will be to show consistency. So while his first victory was nice, there’s much more to accomplish.
“I’m not here to win one game in the major leagues,” he said. “I’m here to win day-to-day and ultimately get the championship.”
Sugano dealt with cold weather in Kansas City and that might be the situation again this week. The temperature is expected to be in the 40s when the game begins.
“Ideally, I don’t want to pitch in cold weather,” Sugano said.
The Blue Jays are coming off a chilly series in Boston, so they might be adjusted to such conditions.
Toronto right-hander Bowden Francis (1-1, 3.18 ERA) draws the start. He didn’t face the Orioles during the season-opening series.
Francis went 1-0 with a 5.79 ERA in two starts and one relief appearance against Baltimore last season, allowing nine runs in 14 innings. He also had four no-decisions in shorter 2023 stints against the Orioles.
–Field Level Media
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