Yankees vs. Orioles game preview: Whitley looks to win another series

After winning last night, a win this afternoon would guarantee another series win. The Yankees had gone five series in a row before losing their last series to the Blue Jays. That streak is the reason the Yankees currently sit atop the AL East, so getting back onto a winning streak of some kind will help them stay above the competition.

Chase Whitley will make his third start of the season in the Bronx as the Yankees are at least guaranteed a series tie no matter what happens over the next two games. Whitley has been a solid replacement for injured ace Masahiro Tanaka thus far, allowing only one run over 12 innings while striking out 11 and walking just one batter. With Chris Capuano on the way back, another solid start will be a great way to distance himself from Adam Warren as the odd man out of the rotation. He will be opposed by Wei-Yin Chen, who has maintained a 2.83 ERA over 28.2 innings while collecting 20 strikeouts against 11 walks and five home runs. Over his career, Chen has a 5.18 ERA over 57.1 innings against the Yankees, though he only allowed two runs on four hits over six innings in an earlier start against them.

The speedy outfielders at the top of the Yankee lineup continue to drive the offense as Brett Gardner raised his season average to .326 with two hits Friday night and Jacoby Ellsbury will enter Saturday's contest riding an 11-game hitting streak while posting an impressive .362 average. Both are among the top 10 in stolen bases this year as Ellsbury has 11 and Gardner has nine.

First pitch is 1:05pm at Yankee Stadium and the game will be broadcasted on YES.