<p>Aside from a pair of home runs in the third inning, not much went well for the <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/">Toronto Blue Jays</a> in last night&#8217;s 11-4 series-opening loss to the Baltimore Orioles.</p>
<p>Seven of the nine Baltimore starters recorded at least one hit, with three players recording three hits. Of the seven games that these two teams have played against each other this season, the Orioles now have three games in which they have produced 12 nine hits and 9 runs.</p>
<p>After dropping back-to-back losses for the first time since before the All-Star break, the Blue Jays get not one, but two opportunities to get back in the win column with a doubleheader ahead of them today. For the first game, the Blue Jays have activated Easton Lucas from triple-A Buffalo to make his fifth start of the season and his sixth appearance overall.</p>
<p>In those games, Lucas has posted polarizing results with three scoreless outings between four and five frames, along with two starts in which he allowed eight and six runs. Altogether, the former Baltimore minor leaguer has put up a 5.82 ERA, 1.43 WHIP, and 9.1 K/9 this season with five home runs allowed. The Orioles have plugged in several righties to their batting order, but no one in the starting lineup has faced Lucas before.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Let’s play TWO! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/lightsupletsgo?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#lightsupletsgo</a> <a href="https://t.co/WXbO28LlFT">pic.twitter.com/WXbO28LlFT</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) <a href="https://twitter.com/BlueJays/status/1950210080491594215?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 29, 2025</a></p></blockquote>
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<p>The Blue Jays also recalled right-hand pitcher Lazaro Estrada from triple-A to serve as the 27th man for today&#8217;s doubleheader, should the team need additional relief of any kind. Estrada has just one major league appearance to his name, but it was in similar circumstances when the team needed bulk innings from him. He tossed four innings of one-run ball with four strikeouts and one walk on July 5th against the Angels, generating 10 whiffs between his fastball, slider, and curveball.</p>
<p>Baltimore will counter Lucas with 41-year-old veteran Charlie Morton. Nicknamed &#8220;Ground Chuck&#8221; and &#8220;Uncle Charlie&#8221;, Morton has pitched to a 5.48 ERA, 1.54 WHIP, and a 9.3 K/9 over 22 games this season. After a tough March/April, Morton was relegated to the bullpen to work in various capacities. He was moved back into the starting rotation on May 26th, and since then, he has posted a 6-1 record with a 3.81 ERA over 10 starts.</p>
<p>Morton last faced Toronto during Opening Weekend, allowing four runs, seven hits, and one walk across 3 1/3 frames. He danced around trouble through the first three innings, but three singles, a bases-loaded walk, and a sac fly to lead off the fourth inning ultimately ended his night. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has had the most success of anyone in the Blue Jays lineup against Morton, going 6-for-15 with two doubles in his career.</p>
<p>After getting hit in the head by a pitch in last night&#8217;s game, <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/george-springers-potential-injury-comes-awful-time-toronto-blue-jays">George Springer</a> is not in the starting lineup for the first game of the day, but he is &#8220;feeling better,&#8221; per Keegan Matheson of <em>MLB.com</em>. In his spot, Davis Schneider will serve as the DH and bat second. Ali Sánchez will make his fifth appearance of the season behind the plate after replacing Alejandro Kirk, who is on the 7-day concussion IL.</p>
<p>Eric Lauer (6-2, 2.61 ERA) will start Game 2 of the doubleheader, but as of this morning, the Orioles have not announced a starter for that game yet.</p>
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<p><strong>Location: </strong>Oriole Park at Camden Yards</p>
<p><strong>First Pitch: </strong>Game 1 &#8211; 12:35 PM EST / Game 2 &#8211; 6:35 PM EST</p>
<p><strong>Watch/Listen: </strong>Sportsnet / Sportsnet 590 The Fan</p>
<h2>Starting Pitchers</h2>
<p><strong>Toronto Blue Jays &#8211; </strong>Easton Lucas (Game 1): 3-2 record, 5.82 ERA, 21 2/3 IP, 22 SO, 10 BB</p>
<p><strong>Baltimore Orioles &#8211; </strong>Charlie Morton (Game 1): 6-8 record, 5.48 ERA, 95 1/3 IP, 99 SO, 45 BB</p>
<h2>Lineups (Game 1):</h2>
<p><strong>Blue Jays:</strong></p>
<ol>
<li>Nathan Lukes &#8211; CF</li>
<li>Davis Schneider &#8211; DH</li>
<li>Vladimir Guerrero Jr. &#8211; 1B</li>
<li>Bo Bichette &#8211; SS</li>
<li>Addison Barger &#8211; RF</li>
<li>Ernie Clement &#8211; 2B</li>
<li>Joey Loperfido &#8211; LF</li>
<li>Will Wagner &#8211; 3B</li>
<li class="full-name">Ali Sánchez &#8211; C</li>
</ol>
<p><strong>Orioles:</strong></p>
<ol>
<li>Jordan Westburg &#8211; 2B</li>
<li>Ramón Laureano &#8211; DH</li>
<li>Gunnar Henderson &#8211; SS</li>
<li>Tyler O&#8217;Neill &#8211; RF</li>
<li>Ramón Urías &#8211; 3B</li>
<li>Cedric Mullins &#8211; CF</li>
<li>Coby Mayo &#8211; 1B</li>
<li>Colton Cowser &#8211; LF</li>
<li>Alex Jackson &#8211; C</li>
</ol>
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Aside from a pair of home runs in the third inning, not much went well for the <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/">Toronto Blue Jays</a> in last night's 11-4 series-opening loss to the Baltimore Orioles.

Seven of the nine Baltimore starters recorded at least one hit, with three players recording three hits. Of the seven games that these two teams have played against each other this season, the Orioles now have three games in which they have produced 12 nine hits and 9 runs.

After dropping back-to-back losses for the first time since before the All-Star break, the Blue Jays get not one, but two opportunities to get back in the win column with a doubleheader ahead of them today. For the first game, the Blue Jays have activated Easton Lucas from triple-A Buffalo to make his fifth start of the season and his sixth appearance overall.

In those games, Lucas has posted polarizing results with three scoreless outings between four and five frames, along with two starts in which he allowed eight and six runs. Altogether, the former Baltimore minor leaguer has put up a 5.82 ERA, 1.43 WHIP, and 9.1 K/9 this season with five home runs allowed. The Orioles have plugged in several righties to their batting order, but no one in the starting lineup has faced Lucas before.

https://twitter.com/BlueJays/status/1950210080491594215

The Blue Jays also recalled right-hand pitcher Lazaro Estrada from triple-A to serve as the 27th man for today's doubleheader, should the team need additional relief of any kind. Estrada has just one major league appearance to his name, but it was in similar circumstances when the team needed bulk innings from him. He tossed four innings of one-run ball with four strikeouts and one walk on July 5th against the Angels, generating 10 whiffs between his fastball, slider, and curveball.

Baltimore will counter Lucas with 41-year-old veteran Charlie Morton. Nicknamed "Ground Chuck" and "Uncle Charlie", Morton has pitched to a 5.48 ERA, 1.54 WHIP, and a 9.3 K/9 over 22 games this season. After a tough March/April, Morton was relegated to the bullpen to work in various capacities. He was moved back into the starting rotation on May 26th, and since then, he has posted a 6-1 record with a 3.81 ERA over 10 starts.

Morton last faced Toronto during Opening Weekend, allowing four runs, seven hits, and one walk across 3 1/3 frames. He danced around trouble through the first three innings, but three singles, a bases-loaded walk, and a sac fly to lead off the fourth inning ultimately ended his night. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has had the most success of anyone in the Blue Jays lineup against Morton, going 6-for-15 with two doubles in his career.

After getting hit in the head by a pitch in last night's game, <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/george-springers-potential-injury-comes-awful-time-toronto-blue-jays">George Springer</a> is not in the starting lineup for the first game of the day, but he is "feeling better," per Keegan Matheson of <em>MLB.com</em>. In his spot, Davis Schneider will serve as the DH and bat second. Ali Sánchez will make his fifth appearance of the season behind the plate after replacing Alejandro Kirk, who is on the 7-day concussion IL.

Eric Lauer (6-2, 2.61 ERA) will start Game 2 of the doubleheader, but as of this morning, the Orioles have not announced a starter for that game yet.

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<strong>Location: </strong>Oriole Park at Camden Yards

<strong>First Pitch: </strong>Game 1 - 12:35 PM EST / Game 2 - 6:35 PM EST

<strong>Watch/Listen: </strong>Sportsnet / Sportsnet 590 The Fan
<h2>Starting Pitchers</h2>
<strong>Toronto Blue Jays - </strong>Easton Lucas (Game 1): 3-2 record, 5.82 ERA, 21 2/3 IP, 22 SO, 10 BB

<strong>Baltimore Orioles - </strong>Charlie Morton (Game 1): 6-8 record, 5.48 ERA, 95 1/3 IP, 99 SO, 45 BB
<h2>Lineups (Game 1):</h2>
<strong>Blue Jays:</strong>
<ol>
 	<li>Nathan Lukes - CF</li>
 	<li>Davis Schneider - DH</li>
 	<li>Vladimir Guerrero Jr. - 1B</li>
 	<li>Bo Bichette - SS</li>
 	<li>Addison Barger - RF</li>
 	<li>Ernie Clement - 2B</li>
 	<li>Joey Loperfido - LF</li>
 	<li>Will Wagner - 3B</li>
 	<li class="full-name">Ali Sánchez - C</li>
</ol>
<strong>Orioles:</strong>
<ol>
 	<li>Jordan Westburg - 2B</li>
 	<li>Ramón Laureano - DH</li>
 	<li>Gunnar Henderson - SS</li>
 	<li>Tyler O'Neill - RF</li>
 	<li>Ramón Urías - 3B</li>
 	<li>Cedric Mullins - CF</li>
 	<li>Coby Mayo - 1B</li>
 	<li>Colton Cowser - LF</li>
 	<li>Alex Jackson - C</li>
</ol>

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