Blue Jays-Baltimore Orioles:

Series preview

CAMDEN YARDS Friday, 7:05 p.m. RH Aaron Sanchez (6-1, 3.38) vs. RH Mike Wright (3-3, 5.31) Saturday, 4:05 p.m. RH RA Dickey (4-7, 4.16) vs. RH Yovani Gallardo (1-1, 7.00) Sunday, 1:05 p.m. RH Marcus Stroman (6-2, 4.76) vs. TBA TV: All games on Sportsnet Radio: All games on Sportsnet 590 The Fan

Players to watch: Josh Donaldson vs. Manny Machado. A battle of two of the best third baseman in baseball. Donaldson has done it all for the Jays the past two days — grand slams, RBIs and amazing de- fence. Machado does the same for the Orioles, and he’ll be in a close race with Donaldson for Gold Glove, Silver Slugger and AL MVP awards this season.

Need to know: The Orioles have the best bullpen in baseball at the moment, with a 2.46 ERA in innings seven through nine. Much of that has to do with left-handed closer Zach Britton, who has been superb in taking over the closer’s role, with righty Darren O’Day on the DL. Britton leads the American League with 20 saves, and it could be argued he has better stuff than two other topshelf lefty closers — Aroldis Chapman and Andrew Miller of the Yankees . . . The bullpen contrasts the starting rotation, which is 16th in the majors with a 4.14 ERA and 24th in strikeouts with 478 entering Thursday’s games. Manager Buck Showalter recently demoted Ubaldo Jimenez to the ’pen after the righty posted a 3-7 record with a 6.89 ERA in his first 13 starts . . . Mike Wright faces the Jays for the second time in just over a week; he gave up six hits, five walks and four earned runs in 51⁄ innings last week in Toronto . . . Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy could return to the lineup as early as Friday. Hardy has been out since May 1 with a fractured foot.

Up next: Tuesday and Wednesday, against Arizona at the Rogers Centre. Mark Zwolinski