Tuesday 4/25 Baseball

[Tinfish]

YTD 2-3

BALTIMORE ORIOLES @ TORONTO BLUE JAYS >>>> OVER 10 -120
Baltimore (11-9, 4-3 away) at Toronto (9-8, 6-5 home) 7:07 PM. EST.

Miguel Tejada has been arguably the hottest hitter in the major leagues over the last 10 days. That trend could continue Tuesday, when the Baltimore Orioles visit the Toronto Blue Jays in the opener of a three-game series.

Tejada accounted for each of the Orioles' four hits in Sunday's 7-1 loss to the New York Yankees, extending his hitting streak to nine games. Named the American League's Player of the Week on Monday, Tejada has batted .556 (20-for-36) with three homers and 10 RBI during the streak to raise his average to a league-best .415.

The torrid hitting could carry into the series with the Blue Jays as Tejada is a lifetime .328 hitter with 14 home runs and 46 RBI in 177 at-bats at Rogers Centre.

Orioles starter Rodrigo Lopez (1-1, 7.20 ERA) was spared his second loss of the season by Tejada and the rest of Baltimore's offense in his last start Wednesday. Lopez allowed seven runs and nine hits in 4 1/3 innings, but the Orioles rallied from a four-run deficit for an 18-9 victory over Cleveland.

Gustavo Chacin (3-0, 5.60) also has been the beneficiary of ample run support as the Blue Jays have averaged eight runs in his three starts this season. That support has been missing in his five career starts vs. Baltimore as he has gone just 1-3 despite a 2.76 ERA.

One of the keys to Toronto's offense thus far has been Vernon Wells, who has hit safely in all but one of the team's first 17 games and leads the club with seven home runs. Wells has connected for 17 lifetime homers vs. the Orioles, tied for his most against any team.

After being swept by the Orioles in three games here to begin last season's series between the teams, the Blue Jays won 10 of the final 16 meetings.