New York Yankees vs. Baltimore Orioles: Series Preview

Fresh off of eight games in 11 days against the Boston Red Sox, the Yankees will still be staying within the AL East for their next three series. They’ll kick off a week-long road trip with three games in Baltimore. It’ll be the Yankees’ final trip to Oriole Park at Camden Yards this season – they’re 7-0 there in 2019 and 10-2 overall against the Birds this season.

Monday: Masahiro Tanaka vs. Gabriel Ynoa

This game presents an appealing chance for Masahiro Tanaka to get back on track by facing a weak Orioles lineup. Tanaka has an unappealing 10.59 ERA over his last six starts due mostly to two trainwrecks against Boston, but he hasn’t been his usual sharp self for awhile. The Yankees hope that’ll change on Monday.

Although the Orioles have listed Ynoa as Monday’s starter, we don’t really know the game plan for the O’s, who also have a shorthanded rotation. Ynoa hasn’t started a game since June and is not stretched out to pitch more than two or three innings. It’ll likely be a bullpen game for the Orioles, with Ynoa opening and potentially Jimmy Yacabonis or David Hess pitching the bulk of the innings.

Tuesday: Bullpen Game (?) vs. Asher Wojciechowski

Just like the Orioles, the Yankees will likely have to rely on a bullpen game on Tuesday. Due to injuries and scheduling, no starting pitcher is lined up on normal rest. The Yankees could turn to the dynamic duo of Chad Green and ex-Oriole Nestor Cortes for four or five innings before giving way to the bullpen for the rest of the game. The Yankees used a bullpen game on Saturday for just the second time since the London Series, and improved their record using the strategy to 10-0.

Baltimore will use a traditional starter on Tuesday, 30-year-old Asher Wojciechowski. Acquired from Cleveland in July, Wojciechowski has pitched well for the O’s, touting a 4.15 ERA and 1.07 WHIP in seven games (six starts). He has also struck out 42 batters in 34 innings, so he’s got swing-and-miss stuff. Wojciechowski has been hot lately, going 2-1 with a 2.84 over his last three starts.

Wednesday: James Paxton vs. John Means

Paxton turned the page on a putrid July (0-3, 5.68 ERA, 1.022 OPS against) with a stellar outing against the Red Sox on Friday night, pitching six two-run innings and only giving up two hits while striking out six. Paxton is 1-1 with a 4.09 ERA against the Orioles this season.

The Orioles’ lone All-Star this year, rookie John Means, is slated to come off the injured list to pitch against the Yankees on Wednesday. Pitching for a weak team, Means has somehow gone 8-6 and boasts a 3.12 ERA and .230 batting average against. He doesn’t strike out too many, but his changeup generates lots of weak contact.