If you put any stock in preseason projections, the Toronto Blue Jays are the team the Orioles are going to have to beat to win the American League East, unless you count the Yankees, Red Sox and Rays.
In other words, the Orioles were not a consensus pick to beat out any of them, but the Jays are the defending division champions and they will arrive at Oriole Park tonight for a three-game series that — even at this early point in the season — is loaded with potential entertainment value and intrigue.