TORONTO -- Whenever his Toronto Blue Jays face the Baltimore Orioles, manager John Gibbons has a pretty good idea what kind of game its going to be.Theyre normally slugfests, Gibbons said Monday as the Blue Jays prepared to host Baltimore in the American League wild-card game.The Orioles led the major leagues with 253 home runs this season, hitting 28 in their 19 games against Toronto. The Blue Jays were fourth in baseball with 221 homers and had 29 against Baltimore.Were really very similar teams if you break it down, Gibbons said. We know everything about them, they know everything about us. When youre playing a team from your division, theres really no secrets.Still, with a berth in the best-of-five Division Series against Texas on the line, long balls might be a little harder to come by in Tuesday nights winner-take-all affair between these AL East foes.The challenge of controlling two powerful lineups will fall on the starting pitchers. Marcus Stroman (9-10, 4.37 ERA) gets the nod for Toronto, with fellow right-hander Chris Tillman (16-6, 3.77) going for the Orioles.I think Stro is the perfect guy, Gibbons said. Big game, weve seen him do it before. He did that a couple of times for us last year. You know hes going to come out throwing strikes. Were glad hes available.Baltimore manager Buck Showalter said choosing Tillman was a good, tough decision.We had probably three options, and Chris is one of those good options, Showalter said.The Orioles went 4-0 in Tillmans four starts against the Blue Jays this season. Last year, he was 0-4 in six starts against Toronto, posting an ugly 11.32 ERA.I dont think Ive gone out of my way to do anything different with these guys, Tillman said. Its just the way the cookie crumbles sometimes. Last year didnt go so well, this year has been a little better.Tillman took a no-decision against the Blue Jays in his final start of the regular season, allowing two runs, one earned, and six hits in 5 2/3 innings last Wednesday. In 13 career starts at Rogers Centre, he is 2-6 with a 7.01 ERA.If the Orioles have a late lead, theyll like their chances of locking it down; closer Zach Britton was perfect in 47 save opportunities this season.Given the stakes, Showalter said hed consider using Britton for an extended outing.You dont worry about tomorrow or the next day, the manager explained. Everything is about that nine innings. There are some times during the course of the game that it may happen earlier than usual that you may attack it differently.Stroman lost to Baltimore in his final regular-season outing, yielding four runs and nine hits in seven innings last Thursday. He is 1-2 with a 7.04 ERA in four starts against Baltimore this season.Its an unbelievable lineup, Stroman said. One through nine, there are no easy outs. There are no pitches you can take off. You make a mistake, and they make you pay.Orioles slugger Mark Trumbo led the majors with 47 home runs, part of the reason Gibbons considers Baltimore probably the top quick-strike offense in baseball.There are so many power threats in their lineup, Gibbons said.Power was in short supply for the Blue Jays during the final weeks of the season. Toronto averaged 3.69 runs in September and October, their worst month of the year.A pair of one-run wins at Boston in the final two games of the season gave the Blue Jays home-field advantage against Baltimore and got them ready for the postseason, Gibbons said.Theres got to be something said for experiencing those kind of games, he explained. You play enough of them, you get used to them.Toronto did not put right-hander R.A. Dickey on its roster. Including Stroman, the Blue Jays will have 10 pitchers available. The Orioles had not yet finalized their roster.The winner will head to Texas to play the AL West champion Rangers beginning Thursday.
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Nike Tanjun Outlet . MORITZ, Switzerland -- Fog prevented downhill racers from getting their Olympic dress rehearsal.Phil Clarke had a difficult job this week when trying to select his top five tries from round 12 of Super League XXI. There were an incredible 71 tries scored over six games, and Phil admitted he could easily have selected a top 10!Here are Phil Clarkes top five tries: 5. Thomas Minns - Castleford v HULL KR4. Stefan Ratchford - Widnes v WARRINGTON3. Ashton Golding - St Helens v LEEDS2. Ryan Brierley - Wigan v HUDDERSFIELD1. Jonny Lomax - ST HELENS v LeedsPlay the video at the top of the page to watch Phil Clarkes top five tries...There are two live Super Leaguee games on Sky Sports this week.dddddddddddd Round 13 kicks off in style on Thursday night with the meeting of joint-leaders Warrington Wolves and Wigan Warriors at the Halliwell Jones Stadium.Focus then shifts to the other end of the table on Friday as defending champions Leeds Rhinos host fellow strugglers Huddersfield Giants at Headingley. Also See: Set of Six Carney signs for Salford WATCH: Tempers flare! Rugby League on Sky ' ' '
