Blue Jays’ Vladimir Guerrero Jr. carries torrid stretch into O’s sequence

Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. aims to extend his 17-game hit Tuesday night in the opener of a three-game series against the visiting Baltimore Orioles.

Guerrero’s hitting prowess has not been enough to carry the new-look Blue Jays. They completed a 2-5 road trip with a 4-3, 10-inning loss to the New York Yankees on Sunday.

Guerrero was 1-for-5 Sunday with a double. He is batting .500 (32-for-64) during the streak that started July 14. He has nine home runs, 10 doubles and 18 RBIs in that span, but the team has an 8-9 record.

“He’s at that point where he gets who he is,” Toronto manager John Schneider said. “Which is, I think, the last piece of a great player becoming a great player.”

Baltimore won three of four from Toronto last week before splitting a four-game series with the Cleveland Guardians to start a 10-game road trip.

Guerrero has had to carry even more of Toronto’s offensive load with the departure of Justin Turner at the trade deadline in one of several deals made by the team.

He is batting .316 with 22 homers and 72 RBIs for the season.

“At the end of the day, it’s all confidence,” Guerrero said. “Of course, you’ve got to believe in your talent, but if I feel like I have my confidence, I’m 100 percent, I know I’m going to be OK.”

“He has goals that he sets for himself every single year, obviously, for the team and for himself,” Schneider said. “And I think if he just goes out and does what he’s doing, the last month or so, he’ll probably reach those individually, albeit not what the team wanted to do.”

Toronto is scheduled to start right-hander Chris Bassitt (8-10, 4.02 ERA) on Tuesday. He is 3-3 with a 5.45 ERA in seven career starts against the Orioles. But he was shelled for five runs on nine hits in four innings in last Tuesday’s start at Baltimore, a 6-2 Jays loss.

Baltimore is scheduled to start right-hander Grayson Rodriguez (13-4, 3.86). He earned the win on Wednesday against Toronto when he allowed four runs (three earned) and six hits over six innings. He is 2-1 with a 3.68 in five career starts against Toronto, with both wins coming this season.

Baltimore salvaged a split with Cleveland by winning 9-5 on Sunday. Gunnar Henderson and Jackson Holliday hit home runs for the Orioles, who remain tied for the American League East lead with the Yankees.

Holliday was 2-for-4 Sunday to continue his surge since being recalled from Triple-A Norfolk last week. The homer was the second of his career. His first was a grand slam Wednesday against Toronto.

In April, 20-year-old Holliday went 2-for-34 with 18 strikeouts over 10 games before being demoted. On his return, he is 7-for-18 (.389) with two home runs and seven RBIs in five games.

“I think definitely just having my feet under me (helps),” Holliday said. “Being able to come to the ballpark and have a normal schedule. And just being able to go out there and play, have fun and kind of put everything else to the side.”

“Showing a lot more confidence,” Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said. “The way he can stay on the baseball is much improved. He’s going to have some ups and downs. He’s a really, really young player. But it’s great to see him swing the bat this way this series.”

–Field Level Media