The set-up: What's up with the Blue Jays? Toronto has played in the last two AL championships series but at 1-7 in 2017, is off to its worst start in franchise history. Toronto managed just four hits in a 2-0 loss to Milwaukee on Wednesday, its fifth consecutive defeat. The Blue Jays are in desperate need of an offensive spark, as they have only a total of 17 hits in their last four games. Toronto opens a four-game series with the visiting Baltimore Orioles on Thursday, who swept two from Toronto at home to begin the season. The 5-2 Orioles hit five HRs in a 12-5 win over the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday, gaining a split in the two-game set at Fenway Park.

The pitching matchup: Kevin Gausman (0-0 & 5.40 ERA) takes the mound for Baltimore and it will be Francisco Liriano (0-0 & 135.00 ERA) getting the ball for Toronto. Gausman is making his third start of 2017 and took a step back in his second start of the season Saturday against the Yankees, allowing four runs and eight hits with three walks in 4 2/3 innings. He has given up 13 hits and walked seven in 10 innings thus far but despite his 5.40 ERA, Baltimore has won both of his starts. He is 2-3 with a 4.43 ERA in eight career starts against the Blue Jays (Orioles are 4-4). Liriano walked four batters, threw one wild pitch and was taken deep by Tampa Bay's Evan Longoria while retiring just one batter in his dismal 2017 debut last week on the road. He went 2-1 with a 3.07 ERA in five starts at home for the Blue Jays in 2016, after being traded from Pittsburgh to Toronto last season. He is 2-4 with a 4.34 ERA in nine career starts against Baltimore, with his teams going 2-7.

The pick: Liriano is hoping for a better result at the Rogers Centre tonight, than what happened in his 2017 debut. How could it be worse? Toronto is too good of a team to continue its offensive struggles and Gausman has yet to be sharp in two previous 2017 outings, plus he was 0-2 with a 7.04 ERA in three starts (Orioles lost all three!) against the Jays in 2016. Make Toronto a 10* play.