Yankees vs. Orioles Game Preview: Tanaka looks to rebound from Opening Day loss

The Yankees play the Orioles today at Camden Yards in the second game of a three-game series.

Masahiro Tanaka gets the start for the Yanks, while Kevin Gausman takes the hill for the O's.

Tanaka is looking to rebound from his historic Opening Day loss. He surrendered seven runs (all earned) on eight hits, walked two, and stuck out three in only 2 2/3 innings. It was the worst start of his career. It was also the shortest outing and most runs allowed by a Yankee pitcher on Opening Day in history.

The righty struggled with his command throughout the game. When asked about it afterward, Tanaka said "looking back, just because it was the first game of the season, maybe I was a bit hyped up. I feel I just didn't have good control over myself."

Yankees manager Joe Girardi added, "there can be days when you don't have your great stuff, but usually, because of his command, he can find a way to get through it. But today, he didn't have his command either. He just had a hard time locating his pitches today."

Tanaka had a dominant spring training, going 3-1 with a 0.38 ERA and 0.59 WHIP in 23 2/3 innings. He struck out 28 and walked only five. He also pitched the first 4 1/3 innings of a combined no-hitter against the Tigers on March 17.

Against the Orioles in his career, Tanaka has started five games, going 1-1 with a 2.39 ERA and 0.876 WHIP in 37 2/3 innings. He has only one career start at Camden Yards, which came on May 5 of last year. He got a no-decision after pitching eight scoreless innings, giving up five hits and only one walk, while striking out seven.

Kevin Gausman pitched 5 1/3 innings versus the Blue Jays on Opening Day, yielding two earned runs on five hits while walking four and striking out four. He received a no-decision for the effort, but the Orioles won on a Mark Trumbo walk-off home run in the bottom of the 11th.

Gausman has pitched 17 career games against the Yankees, 11 of them starts. He is 6-3 with a 1.92 ERA and 1.029 WHIP in 79 2/3 innings. He walked 14 and struck out 70 in those outings. The Yankees have hit only .225 versus Gausman lifetime.

Last season, he was 3-1 against the Bronx Bombers, with New York's lone victory being a 2-1 affair at Camden Yards in July.

The Yankees are hoping to find a way to break through against Gausman today. Last season, the Yankees finished only 5 games behind both the Orioles and Blue Jays for the AL Wild Card. The Yankees and their fans know that every game against their AL East rivals could prove to be decisive in the playoff race.

The first pitch is set for 4:05 PM.