The Blue Jays have some kind of streak going against the Orioles right now. Wednesday's 5-0 win improved Toronto's record against Baltimore to 12-0 this season. That is the longest such run to open a season against any team for the Jays.

"You can't explain it," Blue Jays first baseman Lyle Overbay said. "You don't know what we're doing, but I know we definitely feel confident up there."

Let's break it down, shall we?

THE SEASON SERIES

April 6 at Baltimore: 7-6
April 7 at Baltimore: 3-0
April 8 at Baltimore: 5-2

May 28 vs. Baltimore: 5-0
May 29 vs. Baltimore: 5-2
May 30 vs. Baltimore: 6-1

July 16 at Baltimore: 4-2
July 17 at Baltimore: 3-2
July 18 at Baltimore: 10-1

July 26 vs. Baltimore: 9-5
July 27 vs. Baltimore: 8-2
July 28 vs. Baltimore: 5-0

• Consider that the Orioles (31-70) are now 21.5 games behind the Blue Jays (53-49) for fourth place in the American League East. There is only one team facing a larger deficit for the first in their division: Arizona is 22 games out of the National League West's top spot.
• The Jays' 12-0 record to open the year against the Orioles marks the first time since 1999 that a team won 12 in a row against one team to begin a season. That year, the Rangers accomplished the feat against the Twins.
• The 12-game winning streak against the Orioles is the second-longest run in team history against one club for the Jays. Toronto previously had 13-game streaks against the Orioles (1999-2000) and against the Indians (1991-92).
• The Blue Jays have six sweeps overall this season. Four have been against the Orioles. If you removed the games against Baltimore -- which include three of Toronto's eight shutouts this year -- the Blue Jays would be eight games under .500.

THE STATS

Blue Jays: 70 runs (5.8 per game)
Orioles: 23 runs (1.9 per games)

Blue Jays: 24 home runs & 59 extra-base hits
Jose Bautista: 6 home runs & 13 extra-base hits
Orioles: 4 home runs & 20 extra-base hits

Blue Jays: 12-0 with a 1.75 ERA
Ricky Romero: 3-0 with a 1.14 ERA
Orioles: 0-12 with a 5.65 ERA

Blue Jays: .292 (121-for-414) average
Orioles: .228 (89-for-390) average

"You don't expect it," said Blue Jays center fielder Vernon Wells, referring to his club's undefeated record against the Orioles. "We've seemed to get the breaks when we've needed them against them."

Six games to go...

--JB

BALTIMORE AT TORONTO
at 7:07 p.m. ET, Rogers Centre

ORIOLES (31-69, 32.5 GB AL EAST)
1. Brian Roberts, 2B
2. Migue Tejada, 3B
3. Nick Markakis, RF
4. Luke Scott, DH
5. Ty Wigginton, 1B
6. Adam Jones, CF
7. Jake Fox, C
8. Corey Patterson, LF
9. Cesar Izturis, SS

Pitching: Jeremy Guthrie (4-10, 4.46)

BLUE JAYS (52-49, 12.0 GB AL EAST)
1. Fred Lewis, LF
2. Yunel Escobar, SS
3. Jose Bautista, RF
4. Vernon Wells, CF
5. Adam Lind, DH
6. Aaron Hill, 2B
7. Lyle Overbay, 1B
8. John Buck, C
9. Edwin Encarnacion, 3B

Pitching: Brad Mills (Season debut)

--JB

Jose Bautista might not want to high five his teammates too hard with that right hand of his. After all, it is a part of one of the more dangerous arms in the game right now.

Let's take a moment to examine the eighth-inning cannon blast that Bautista provided for Blue Jays fans in Tuesday's 8-2 win. I'm talking about his throw from right field -- not his 30th homer that came a bit later.

The Situation: Orioles have no outs and runners on second (Nick Markakis) and third (Miguel Tejada) with Luke Scott at the plate. Scott sends a fly ball to right field and both runners tag up. Bautista has a decision to make when he catches the ball.

"The ball was too far in the gap for me to be able to throw home," Bautista said. "It was too long of a throw and I was going to have to angle the throw. So I figured I might as well give it a shot at third, because I had the base right in my alignment."

The Decision: Tejada tagged up and bolted home for Baltimore's second run and Markakis did the same and sprinted to for third. Bautista came up firing, sending a rocket to third baseman Edwin Encarnacion. It was more of a precautionary throw than anything else, but Markakis' decision played into Bautista's hands.

"That situation was a tricky play at the point of the game that it was," Bautista said. "I didn't think he was going to go, just because I didn't see the purpose in going to third. He's already in scoring position."

The Result: Markakis is thrown out at third base for a big double play that brought an effective end to Baltimore's rally. Suddenly, the Orioles have no runners on base with two outs instead of a man in scoring position with one out in a 6-2 game.

"He made the right throw," Blue Jays manager Cito Gaston said. "Most guys would've thrown that ball home, but he threw it to third base and that was a big play. ... That's knowing who's running, knowing how far you are, knowing the easier throw. That's part of thinking it out before the ball is hit to you.

"I don't think people give Bautista a lot of credit as being a smart player, but he is."

For those keeping score at home, Bautista has been doing this all season long. Not only does he lead the Major Leagues with 30 home runs, Bautista also leads the American League and is tied for the Major League lead with nine outfield assists. More impressive? He's spent 265 innings at third base this year.

Let's look at it a different way...

Outfield Assists Leaders

Jose Bautista, Blue Jays: 9
Jeff Francoeur, Mets: 9
Michael Bourn, Astros: 8
Magglio Ordonez, Tigers: 7
Shin-Soo Choo, Indians: 7
Carl Crawford, Rays: 7
Delmon Young, Twins: 7
Chris Young, D-backs: 7
Chris Coghlan, Marlins: 7
Nate Schierholtz, Giants: 7
Hunter Pence, Astros: 7

Outfield Innings for Same Group

Chris Young, D-backs: 841
Hunter Pence, Astros: 840
Michael Bourn, Astros: 781
Jeff Francoeur, Mets: 773.1
Chris Coghlan, Marlins: 770
Delmon Young, Twins: 769.1
Carl Crawford, Rays: 755.1
Shin-Shoo Choo, Indians: 725
Magglio Ordonez, Tigers: 608.2
Jose Bautista, Blue Jays: 605.2
Nate Schierholtz, Giants: 449.2

Outfield Assists per Nine Innings

Nate Schierholtz, Giants: 0.140
Jose Bautista, Blue Jays: 0.134
Jeff Francoeur, Mets: 0.105
Magglio Ordonez, Tigers: 0.104
Michael Bourn, Astros: 0.092
Shin-Soo Choo, Indians: 0.087
Carl Crawford, Rays: 0.083
Delmon Young, Twins: 0.082
Chris Coghlan, Marlins: 0.082
Hunter Pence, Astros: 0.075
Chris Young, D-backs: 0.075

Last season, Bautista led the Blue Jays with 11 outfield assists, which also ranked fourth in the American League. He did so in just 641 innings across 79 games in the outfield, giving him an MLB-leading rate of 0.15 assists per nine innings in 2009. It is amazing that runners keep testing Bautista's arm as often as they do.

"Sometimes I am surprised when they go," Bautista said.

--JB

BALTIMORE AT TORONTO
at 7:07 p.m. ET, Rogers Centre

ORIOLES (31-68, 32.5 GB AL EAST)
1. Julio Lugo, 2B
2. Migue Tejada, 3B
3. Nick Markakis, RF
4. Luke Scott, DH
5. Adam Jones, CF
6. Matt Wieters, C
7. Felix Pie, LF
8. Jake Fox, 1B
9. Cesar Izturis, SS

Pitching: Kevin Millwood (2-9, 5.84)

BLUE JAYS (51-49, 13.0 GB AL EAST)
1. Fred Lewis, LF
2. Yunel Escobar, SS
3. Jose Bautista, RF
4. Vernon Wells, CF
5. Adam Lind, DH
6. Aaron Hill, 2B
7. Lyle Overbay, 1B
8. John Buck, C
9. Edwin Encarnacion, 3B

Pitching: Ricky Romero (7-7, 3.52)

--JB

BALTIMORE AT TORONTO
at 7:07 p.m. ET, Rogers Centre

ORIOLES (31-67, 31.5 GB AL EAST)
1. Brian Roberts, 2B
2. Migue Tejada, 3B
3. Nick Markakis, RF
4. Luke Scott, DH
5. Adam Jones, CF
6. Felix Pie, LF
7. Matt Wieters, C
8. Jake Fox, 1B
9. Cesar Izturis, SS

Pitching: Brad Bergesen (3-8, 6.51)

BLUE JAYS (50-49, 13.0 GB AL EAST)
1. Fred Lewis, LF
2. Yunel Escobar, SS
3. Jose Bautista, RF
4. Vernon Wells, CF
5. Adam Lind, DH
6. Aaron Hill, 2B
7. Lyle Overbay, 1B
8. Edwin Encarnacion, 3B
9. Jose Molina, C

Pitching: Brandon Morrow (6-6, 4.71)

--JB

I will not be in Detroit covering the Blue Jays for the upcoming four-game series. I will catch you from Toronto on Monday and during thre upcoming homestand. And I may or may not be blogging in the next few days off.

So stay tuned...

~JB

TORONTO AT KANSAS CITY
at 2:10 p.m. ET, Kauffman Stadium

BLUE JAYS (48-46, 12.0 GB AL EAST)
1. Fred Lewis, LF
2. John McDonald, SS
3. Jose Bautista, RF
4. Vernon Wells, CF
5. Adam Lind, DH
6. Aaron Hill, 2B
7. Lyle Overbay, 1B
8. Edwin Encarnacion, 3B
9. Jose Molina, C

Pitching: Marc Rzepczynski (0-0, 5.40)

ROYALS (40-53, 11.0 GB AL CENTRAL)
1. Willie Bloomquist, RF
2. Mike Aviles, 2B
3. Billy Butler, 1B
4. Wilson Betemit, LF
5. Jose Guillen, DH
6. Alberto Callaspo, 3B
7. Brayan Pena, C
8. Mitch Maier, CF
9. Yuniesky Betancourt, SS

Pitching: Zack Greinke (5-9, 3.67)

NOTE: SS Yunel Escobar remains day to day with a right hand contusion after being hit by a pitch in Monday's game. Manager Cito Gaston is hoping Escobar will be able to play on Thursday.

--JB

*That is, if this game gets played tonight...

TORONTO AT KANSAS CITY
at 8:10 p.m. ET, Kauffman Stadium

BLUE JAYS (47-46, 12.0 GB AL EAST)
1. Fred Lewis, LF
2. John McDonald, SS
3. Jose Bautista, RF
4. Vernon Wells, CF
5. Adam Lind, DH
6. Aaron Hill, 2B
7. Lyle Overbay, 1B
8. John Buck, C
9. Edwin Encarnacion, 3B

Pitching: Jesse Litsch (0-4, 6.54)

ROYALS (40-52, 11.0 GB AL CENTRAL)
1. Scott Podsednik, LF
2. Jason Kendall, C
3. David DeJesus, CF
4. Billy Butler, 1B
5. Jose Guillen, DH
6. Alberto Callaspo, 3B
7. Mitch Maier, RF
8. Mike Aviles, 2B
9. Yuniesky Betancourt, SS

Pitching: Anthony Lerew (1-3, 7.56)

NOTE: SS Yunel Escobar is day to day with a right hand contusion after being hit by a pitch in Monday's game. Manager Cito Gaston is hoping Escobar will be able to play on Wednesday.

--JB

TORONTO AT KANSAS CITY
at 8:10 p.m. ET, Kauffman Stadium

BLUE JAYS (47-45, 11.5 GB AL EAST)
1. Fred Lewis, LF
2. Yunel Escobar, SS
3. Jose Bautista, RF
4. Vernon Wells, CF
5. Adam Lind, DH
6. Aaron Hill, 2B
7. Lyle Overbay, 1B
8. John Buck, C
9. Edwin Encarnacion, 3B

Pitching: Brett Cecil (8-5, 3.97)

ROYALS (39-52, 11.0 GB AL CENTRAL)
1. Scott Podsednik, LF
2. Jason Kendall, C
3. David DeJesus, CF
4. Billy Butler, 1B
5. Jose Guillen, DH
6. Alberto Callaspo, 3B
7. Mike Aviles, 2B
8. Willie Bloomquist, RF
9. Yuniesky Betancourt, SS

Pitching: Kyle Davies (4-6, 5.57)

~JB

YUNEL ESCOBAR

In first three games with Blue Jays:

.462 average
15 plate appearances
13 at-bats
6 hits
5 RBIs
3 runs scored
1 grand slam
1 infield single
1 bunt single
1 sacrifice bunt
1 walk
0 strikeouts
1 behind-the-back glove flip

Toronto:

3 wins against the Orioles

--JB