The Baltimore Orioles and New York Yankees begin a four-game series in the American League East Friday night at Yankee Stadium
Baltimore Orioles at New York Yankees
Baltimore dropped its rubber game in Toronto last night by an 8-5 score and now heads to face a team that it has lost 30 of the last 37 meetings against. “Offensively, defensively, pitching, we just can’t get it all clicking at the same time,” said Orioles third baseman Mark Reynolds. “There were a couple of plays here and there that could have changed the course of the game.” The Orioles have dropped all six meetings against the Yankees this year by a combined score of 51-18. Traveling to Yankee Stadium is highly unlikely to change things, a venue that the club has posted a 7-22 inside since the 2008 season. Baltimore is 15-32 on the road this season and 12-26 versus division opponents.
Orioles starting pitcher Jeremy Guthrie is 4-14 with a 4.33 ERA in 23 appearances (21 starts) this season. The right-hander has compiled a dismal 1-8 record and 4.02 ERA in 10 road outings (nine starts), surrendering seven home runs in 62 2/3 innings. Guthrie has dropped five of his last six starts, including a 9-3 home loss to the Angels last time out, giving up three runs and six hits over seven innings. In 14 career starts versus the Yankees, the former first-round selection is 3-9 with a 5.66 ERA, including a 1-3 mark and 6.16 ERA in five outings in the Bronx.
New York continues its homestand after enjoying an off day Thursday, as the team dropped a 9-2 home contest to Seattle Wednesday afternoon. The Yankees start the weekend 2.5 games behind the Red Sox in the AL East standings and will come into this series confidently due to their 16-4 all-time mark against the Orioles at the new Yankee Stadium. Leading the offensive charge against tonight’s opponent is likely to be second baseman Robinson Cano, who is hitting .351 against them. New York is 6-6 when playing after an off day and 19-17 versus division foes.
Yankees starting pitcher A.J. Burnett is 8-8 with a 4.21 ERA in 21 starts this season and is coming off a 4-3 home loss to the Athletics. He allowed three runs and six hits over 5 2/3 frames in that particular contest. The right-hander brings in a winning 6-5 record and 4.14 ERA in 13 home outings, as opponents are hitting .231 against him. In 19 career starts versus the Orioles, Burnett has tallied an impressive 12-4 mark and 4.54 ERA, including a 7-4 at Yankee Stadium on April 13. He gave up four runs and seven hits in 6 1/3 frames in that particular outing.
Bettors will be interested in backing the Yankees due to their 122-56 record as a home favorite, while the Orioles are 0-7 in Guthrie’s last seven starts versus the Bronx Bombers
