TORONTO vs. BALTIMORE 8/27/2018 MLB Odds, Pick & Preview

Kendrys Morales attempts to put his name in the record book while the Toronto Blue Jays look to continue their dominance in the season series when they visit the major league-worst Baltimore Orioles on Monday for the opener of their three-game set. Morales has homered in a franchise-record seven consecutive contests and hopes to match the major-league mark with a blast as Toronto seeks its 11th straight win over Baltimore.

The 35-year-old Cuban has belted eight homers during his streak, including a two-run shot in Sunday’s 8-3 loss to Philadelphia that put him one game away from joining Dale Long (1956), Don Mattingly (1987) and Ken Griffey Jr. (1993) as the only players ever to go deep in eight contests in a row. Sunday’s setback ended the Blue Jays’ five-game winning streak, but they look to begin another against a team they have handled easily in 2018. Toronto is 12-1 overall versus the Orioles this year and has swept each of the last three series between the American League East rivals. Baltimore has lost eight straight contests overall and five in a row at home after being outscored 27-12 during a four-game sweep at the hands of the New York Yankees over the weekend.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, Sportsnet, TVA (Toronto), MASN (Baltimore)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Blue Jays RH Sam Gaviglio (3-6, 4.94 ERA) vs. Orioles RH David Hess (2-8, 5.50)

Gaviglio ended his 15-start winless streak on Tuesday, when he limited Baltimore to two runs and six hits over seven innings. The 28-year-old Oregonian had not been victorious since May 25 at Philadelphia in just his second turn of the season. Gaviglio also faced the Orioles on July 20 but did not factor in the decision after yielding four runs and seven hits in a career-high 7 2/3 frames.

Hess lost his seventh straight decision on Wednesday despite allowing just one run and three hits in a career-best seven innings at Toronto. The 25-year-old rookie from Tennessee also gave up one run over six frames in the capital of Ontario on June 7 but settled for a no-decision. Hess has made only four of his 13 starts at home and is 1-3 while surrendering 15 runs on 24 hits and seven walks across 22 innings at Camden Yards overall.

WALK-OFFS

1. The homer on Sunday by Morales, who is riding a 10-game hitting streak, was his team-leading 21st of the season and helped him break the franchise mark for consecutive contests with a blast set in 2001 by Jose Cruz Jr.

2. Baltimore rookie OF Cedric Mullins sat out Sunday’s contest due to a sore hip flexor but hopes to be in the lineup for the series opener.

3. Toronto RHP Justin Shafer has allowed just one hit over five scoreless innings in his first three major-league appearances.

PREDICTION: Orioles 5, Blue Jays 2