The Baltimore Orioles, start a 3 game series with the New York Yankees tonight at New Yankee Stadium.
The Orioles are 41-50 overall, 15-29 on the road.
The Yankees are 54-37 overall, and 29-16 at home. Included in those home wins, was a 3 game sweep of Baltimore in May.
For the year, the O’s are 3-6 against the Yanks.
The scheduled pitching matchups for the series are:
7/20 Hernandez vs Pettitte
7/21 Hill vs Mitre
7/22 Berken vs Burnett
With the trade of Salazar, Hernandez has rejoined the O’s.
Hernandez will be making his 6th start for the Orioles. In his previous 18.1 innings, he has allowed 19 hits, 8 er, 3 homers, 7 walks, with 8 k’s.
Tonight will be Hernandez’s first start against the American League East.
Pettitte has long-feasted on the O’s, and will be the 10th lefty-starter the O’s have seen in 11 games. Perhaps having all of those recent at-bats vs lefties will better prepare the O’s for tonight.
9 days ago, against Toronto, Hill went 6innings, and allowed 2er. He pitched off his fast-ball and showed improved mechanics. The Jays were off-balance as they were anticipating his curve.
Sergio Mitre will be making his first Major League apperance since 2007. This year, the 28 year-old has been pitching for AAA Scranton. In 45 innings, Mitre allowed 40 hits, and only 5 walks, with 35 k’s.
On Wednesday, Berken is scheduled to take the mound. If Berken makes the start, you can only conclude that the O’s did not want to bring up Chris Tillman to make his debut in Yankee Stadium.
Berken will be looking to reverse the trend where 7 of his 10 starts have been 5innings or less.
32 year-old AJ Burnett has bee on fire lately, where he has won his past 3 decisions. In his last 26.1 innings, he has allowed 20 hits, 7er, 14 walks, with 20 k’s.
Nady and Wang remain on the DL for New York.
When you feature ARod, Tex, Cano, Jeter, Matsui, Damon, Swisher, and Posada you are obviously going to score some runs. Even in CF they are getting solid-combined production of Gardner, and Cabrera.
There is no where to run against the Yanks. You have to score runs, and you can not play from behind against the Bronx Bombers. You can’t afford to let them be able to turn the game over to Rivera with a lead.
When you are on the mound, you better be able to throw-strikes. The Yanks will take pitches, and make you work. You have to trust your stuff. I was hoping that Bergesen would have received a turn this series, as I think he would be an interesting match-up for the Yanks.
David Hernandez will need to trust his stuff tonight, and get strike 1.
I am really looking forward to Reimold getting his 2nd series in NY, and Wieters making his debut. The O’s had 10+ hits in each of the 3 games against Chicago, and will need that level of offensive production this series.
Owner
Chris Stoner founded Baltimore Sports and Life in 2009. He has appeared as a radio guest with 1090 WBAL, 105.7 The Fan, CBS 1300, Q1370, WOYK 1350, WKAV 1400, and WNST 1570. He has also been interviewed by The Baltimore Sun, Baltimore Business Journal, and PressBox (TV). As Owner, his responsibilities include serving as the Managing Editor, Publicist, & Sales Director.