Orioles-Blue Jays Preview

Although the Toronto Blue Jays won't be making the playoffs, the turnaround they have made under Cito Gaston has given the manager the support of the team's president and general manager.

Gaston and the Blue Jays close a three-game series against the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday after the teams split the first two games.

Toronto (81-71) is 10 games behind Tampa Bay in the AL East and eight out in the wild card, making it unlikely that it will make the playoffs for the first time since winning the World Series in 1993. Gaston was the manager of that club, and he took over the Blue Jays from John Gibbons on June 20 this year.

Toronto was in last place in the AL East entering games on June 20 with a 35-39 record, but the Blue Jays have showed promise in the last month, going 13-5 since Aug. 30. They are tied with the New York Yankees for third place.

"I'm proud, but still think we could have done better," Gaston said before Toronto's 8-7 win over the Orioles (67-83) on Wednesday.

The Blue Jays have not begun negotiations with Gaston, but general manager J.P. Ricciardi and president Paul Godfrey, whose own contract expires Dec. 31, both expressed their intentions to bring him back Wednesday.

"Cito will be here next year," Ricciardi said. "We'll take care of that."

The Orioles' loss on Wednesday was their seventh in eight road games, with the rotation going 1-4 with a 9.32 ERA during that stretch. Brian Bass lasted 4 1-3 innings on Wednesday, allowing five runs and seven hits.

The loss guaranteed Baltimore will finish last in the AL East for the first time since 1988.

"Nobody wants to be in last place," third baseman Melvin Mora said. "Nobody wants to be a loser. It's one thing we need to turn around next year."

Toronto took the lead for good in the eighth inning on Travis Snider's sacrifice fly. Alex Rios had three RBIs for the Blue Jays, who improved to 9-5 against the Orioles this year.

Garrett Olson (9-8, 6.84 ERA) tries to bounce back from his worst outing of the season when he takes the mound Thursday for Baltimore.

He recorded only two outs against Minnesota on Saturday after allowing six runs and five hits in the 12-6 loss. The left-hander is 1-3 with an 11.91 ERA in his last six outings.

Olson is 0-1 with a 14.04 ERA in two starts against the Blue Jays this season.

Jesse Litsch (11-8, 3.75) counters for Toronto.

Litsch pitched 5 1-3 innings against Boston on Saturday, allowing three runs, five hits and five walks in the 7-5 loss. He did not factor in the decision after winning his previous two starts.

The right-hander is 1-3 with a 5.24 ERA in four career starts against the Orioles. In his lone start against them in 2008 on July 21, he allowed six runs and seven hits in 4 2-3 innings of an 8-3 loss.