Let&#8217;s just pretend that the whole series against the Yankees just didn&#8217;t happen, okay?

Okay?
Perfect.
Tonight, the Jays will open a three-game set against the Baltimore Orioles capping off a three-series homestand. Toronto came out on top in their first series against the Atlanta Braves with a big sweep, then against the Yankess [REDACTED].
It marks the first time the Jays get a look at the Orioles this season. They&#8217;ve been off to a great start this season with a 28-16 record god for second in the ever-so-tight AL East.
The great news for the Jays tonight is that Vladimir Guerrero Jr. returns to the lineup batting third in the order. He slides in at DH with Brandon Belt playing first base. Vladdy had tweaked his knee in game two of the series against New York, and pinch-hit in the seventh last night. He hit a sac fly for the Jays to make it a one-run game, but they couldn&#8217;t close our game four of the series.
Yusei Kikuchi gets the mound for Toronto tonight, while the O&#8217;s will send out Kyle Gibson.
First pitch: 7:07 p.m. EST
Weather: 20C.
Toronto Blue Jays: 25-19, 6.5 GB, &#8211; WCGB. +11 DIFF, 4.64 R/G, 4.25 RA/G.
Baltimore Orioles: 26-16, 3.5 GB, +3.0 WCGB. +31 DIFF, 5.00 R/G, 4.30 RA/G.
<a href="https://www.betano.ca/sport/baseball/north-america/mlb/1662/">Odds via Betano:</a>
Moneyline: TOR -154; BAL +132.
Starting pitchers:
TOR: Yusei Kikuchi LHP — 5-0, 3.89 ERA, 5.46 FIP, 1.296 WHIP, 8.6 K/9, 0.4 WAR.
BAL: Kyle Gibson RHP — 4-3, 4.67 ERA, 4.39 FIP, 1.404 WHIP, 6.2 K/9, 0.6 WAR.
Lineups: 
Toronto
<ol class="starting-lineups__team starting-lineups__team--home">
<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/george-springer-543807" target="" rel="noopener">G Springer</a> (R) RF</li>
<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/bo-bichette-666182" target="" rel="noopener">B Bichette</a> (R) SS</li>
<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/vladimir-guerrero-jr-665489" target="" rel="noopener">V Guerrero Jr.</a> (R) DH</li>
<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/daulton-varsho-662139" target="" rel="noopener">D Varsho</a> (L) LF</li>
<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/matt-chapman-656305" target="" rel="noopener">M Chapman</a> (R) 3B</li>
<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/brandon-belt-474832" target="" rel="noopener">B Belt</a> (L) 1B</li>
<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/whit-merrifield-593160" target="" rel="noopener">W Merrifield</a> (R) 2B</li>
<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/danny-jansen-643376" target="" rel="noopener">D Jansen</a> (R) C</li>
<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/kevin-kiermaier-595281" target="" rel="noopener">K Kiermaier</a> (L) CF</li>
</ol>
Baltimore
<ol class="starting-lineups__team starting-lineups__team--away">
<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/cedric-mullins-656775" target="" rel="noopener">C Mullins</a> (L) CF</li>
<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/adley-rutschman-668939" target="" rel="noopener">A Rutschman</a> (S) C</li>
<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/ryan-mountcastle-663624" target="" rel="noopener">R Mountcastle</a> (R) 1B</li>
<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/anthony-santander-623993" target="" rel="noopener">A Santander</a> (S) DH</li>
<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/austin-hays-669720" target="" rel="noopener">A Hays</a> (R) LF</li>
<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/ryan-mckenna-663630" target="" rel="noopener">R McKenna</a> (R) RF</li>
<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/jorge-mateo-622761" target="" rel="noopener">J Mateo</a> (R) SS</li>
<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/adam-frazier-624428" target="" rel="noopener">A Frazier</a> (L) 2B</li>
<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/joey-ortiz-687401" target="" rel="noopener">J Ortiz</a> (R) 3B</li>
</ol>
<h2>Need to bide the time until first pitch?</h2>
<a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/2023/05/19/bjn-radio-ep-145-a-drama-filled-series-with-the-yankees-what-to-do-about-alek-manoah-and-more/">Tune into the latest edition of Blue Jays Nation Radio</a> as the crew talks about the Jays&#8217; latest series against the New York Yankees.
<iframe title="Spotify Embed: A drama-filled series with the Yankees, what to do about Alek Manoah, and more!" style="border-radius: 12px" width="100%" height="152" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" loading="lazy" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/episode/1pJosIr3wXc7HUKIIA9UtH?utm_source=oembed"></iframe>
<hr />
Zach Laing is the Nation Network’s news director and senior columnist. He can be followed on Twitter at <a href="http://www.twitter.com/zjlaing">@zjlaing</a>, or reached by email at zach@thenationnetwork.com.
<hr />
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Let's just pretend that the whole series against the Yankees just didn't happen, okay?



Okay?

Perfect.

Tonight, the Jays will open a three-game set against the Baltimore Orioles capping off a three-series homestand. Toronto came out on top in their first series against the Atlanta Braves with a big sweep, then against the Yankess [REDACTED].

It marks the first time the Jays get a look at the Orioles this season. They've been off to a great start this season with a 28-16 record god for second in the ever-so-tight AL East.

The great news for the Jays tonight is that Vladimir Guerrero Jr. returns to the lineup batting third in the order. He slides in at DH with Brandon Belt playing first base. Vladdy had tweaked his knee in game two of the series against New York, and pinch-hit in the seventh last night. He hit a sac fly for the Jays to make it a one-run game, but they couldn't close our game four of the series.

Yusei Kikuchi gets the mound for Toronto tonight, while the O's will send out Kyle Gibson.

First pitch: 7:07 p.m. EST

Weather: 20C.

Toronto Blue Jays: 25-19, 6.5 GB, - WCGB. +11 DIFF, 4.64 R/G, 4.25 RA/G.

Baltimore Orioles: 26-16, 3.5 GB, +3.0 WCGB. +31 DIFF, 5.00 R/G, 4.30 RA/G.

<a href="https://www.betano.ca/sport/baseball/north-america/mlb/1662/">Odds via Betano:</a>

Moneyline: TOR -154; BAL +132.

Starting pitchers:

TOR: Yusei Kikuchi LHP — 5-0, 3.89 ERA, 5.46 FIP, 1.296 WHIP, 8.6 K/9, 0.4 WAR.

BAL: Kyle Gibson RHP — 4-3, 4.67 ERA, 4.39 FIP, 1.404 WHIP, 6.2 K/9, 0.6 WAR.

Lineups: 

Toronto
<ol class="starting-lineups__team starting-lineups__team--home">
 	<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/george-springer-543807" target="" rel="noopener">G Springer</a> (R) RF</li>
 	<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/bo-bichette-666182" target="" rel="noopener">B Bichette</a> (R) SS</li>
 	<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/vladimir-guerrero-jr-665489" target="" rel="noopener">V Guerrero Jr.</a> (R) DH</li>
 	<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/daulton-varsho-662139" target="" rel="noopener">D Varsho</a> (L) LF</li>
 	<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/matt-chapman-656305" target="" rel="noopener">M Chapman</a> (R) 3B</li>
 	<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/brandon-belt-474832" target="" rel="noopener">B Belt</a> (L) 1B</li>
 	<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/whit-merrifield-593160" target="" rel="noopener">W Merrifield</a> (R) 2B</li>
 	<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/danny-jansen-643376" target="" rel="noopener">D Jansen</a> (R) C</li>
 	<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/kevin-kiermaier-595281" target="" rel="noopener">K Kiermaier</a> (L) CF</li>
</ol>
Baltimore
<ol class="starting-lineups__team starting-lineups__team--away">
 	<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/cedric-mullins-656775" target="" rel="noopener">C Mullins</a> (L) CF</li>
 	<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/adley-rutschman-668939" target="" rel="noopener">A Rutschman</a> (S) C</li>
 	<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/ryan-mountcastle-663624" target="" rel="noopener">R Mountcastle</a> (R) 1B</li>
 	<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/anthony-santander-623993" target="" rel="noopener">A Santander</a> (S) DH</li>
 	<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/austin-hays-669720" target="" rel="noopener">A Hays</a> (R) LF</li>
 	<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/ryan-mckenna-663630" target="" rel="noopener">R McKenna</a> (R) RF</li>
 	<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/jorge-mateo-622761" target="" rel="noopener">J Mateo</a> (R) SS</li>
 	<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/adam-frazier-624428" target="" rel="noopener">A Frazier</a> (L) 2B</li>
 	<li class="starting-lineups__player"><a class="starting-lineups__player--link" href="https://www.mlb.com/player/joey-ortiz-687401" target="" rel="noopener">J Ortiz</a> (R) 3B</li>
</ol>
<h2>Need to bide the time until first pitch?</h2>
<a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/2023/05/19/bjn-radio-ep-145-a-drama-filled-series-with-the-yankees-what-to-do-about-alek-manoah-and-more/">Tune into the latest edition of Blue Jays Nation Radio</a> as the crew talks about the Jays' latest series against the New York Yankees.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/1pJosIr3wXc7HUKIIA9UtH

<hr />

Zach Laing is the Nation Network’s news director and senior columnist. He can be followed on Twitter at <a href="http://www.twitter.com/zjlaing">@zjlaing</a>, or reached by email at zach@thenationnetwork.com.

<hr />

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