Jays' Buehrle takes on Orioles

(SportsNetwork.com) - Mark Buehrle is in the midst of another impressive April.

The left-hander will try to keep it going and slow down Adam Jones in the process when the Toronto Blue Jays open a three-game set with the Baltimore Orioles at Rogers Centre.

Buehrle, who allowed two runs in winning his first four starts last season, has come out of the gates strong again this year, winning his first two decisions and pitching to a 3.75 ERA.

Although, he hasn't needed to be great, as the Jays have scored 12 runs in each of his first two starts.

"I've always said, 'When I got 10 runs or more, I've never lost,'" Buehrle said. "At least I don't think I have. ... Keep 'em coming."

The 36-year-old hurler beat the Orioles back on April 10 and has faced them 25 times (23 starts), going 9-10 with a 3.54 ERA.

Buehrle will also be tasked with slowing down the red-hot Jones, who saw his nine-game hitting streak come to an end in the Orioles' 7-1 loss on Monday in Boston.

Before going 0-for-2 on Monday, Jones had been 8-for-14 with five RBI in the first three games against the Red Sox, part of a nine-game stretch that saw him hit .571 with five home runs and 14 runs driven in.

Baltimore will turn to righty Bud Norris in Tuesday's opener, as he tries to rebound from a pair of shaky outings to start the year, including an awful showing versus Buehrle and the Blue Jays his first time out. Norris gave up eight runs and seven hits in just three innings of that one, dropping him to 4-1 lifetime versus the Jays with a 4.10 ERA in seven starts.

Norris was a little better on Wednesday against the New York Yankees, but did not receive a decision, as he was hit for three runs and five hits in five innings of his team's 7-5 win.

Toronto dropped two of three to the Atlanta Braves this weekend and has lost three of its last four overall. Baltimore, meanwhile, split its series in Boston, but has won four of its last six.

The Jays could have shortstop Jose Reyes back in the lineup on Tuesday. He has been sidelined since Friday with a rib injury and is expected to be re- evaluated before the game. Toronto is also hoping to have second baseman Devon Travis as well. Travis left Sunday's game after being hit by a pitch in the first inning. The team, though, confirmed he did not have a fracture in his rib.

Reyes is hitting .324 with five RBI in 37 at-bats, while the rookie Travis leads the team with a .356 batting average in 45 at-bats.

The Blue Jays took two of three from the Orioles earlier in the year.