After opening their ten-game home stand by splitting a four-game set versus the Chicago White Sox, the Orioles welcome their long-time archrivals, the New York Yankees, to Camden Yards for the first time this season in a three-game showdown.
The Orioles (14-10) head into the series in 2nd place in the AL East and just 0.5 GB from the Boston Red Sox (15-10) for 1st place in the division. They own a 9-3 record at Camden Yards on the year, while boasting a 7-4 record versus the AL East. The Yankees (8-15) went through a dreadful month of April and currently stand in the cellar of the AL East, six games off the pace of the Red Sox at the top of the standings. After getting swept by Boston at Fenway, the Yanks come into Baltimore owning just a 3-8 record on the road and a 3-6 record versus the AL East.
On paper, the O’s could really add to the Yankees’ early-season misery in this three-game fixture. Led by Manny Machado (.350, 10 2B, 7 HR, 16 RBI), Mark Trumbo (.330, 3 2B, 6 HR, 19 RBI) and Chris Davis (.236, 2 2B, 7 HR, 17 RBI), the O’s high-flying offense presently ranks 4th in the AL in runs per game (4.5), 2nd in OBP (.334) and batting average (.271), and 1st in HR (34). The Bronx Bombers pitching staff hasn’t found their rhythm in the early stages of 2016, and comes into the series ranked 12th in the AL in WHIP (1.32), 13th in BAA (.267), 14th in total ERA (4.79) and dead last in starter ERA (5.16).
On the other hand, the Orioles pitching in general has been considerably better as of late. The O’s staff currently ranks 7th in the AL in WHIP (1.29), and 9th in OBP (.320), BAA (.247) and ERA (3.77). They could also build on their recent success in this series as the Yankees offense led by Starlin Castro (.314, 5 2B, 3 HR, 12 RBI), Alex Rodriguez (.203, 3 2B, 5 HR, 12 RBI), Brian McCann (.262, 1 2B, 3 HR, 7 RBI) and Mark Teixeira (.225, 1 2B, 3 HR, 11 RBI) ranks just 11th in the AL in batting average (.234) and OBP (.305), and only 13th in runs per game (3.5).
Now, let’s take a look at the projected starters:
Chris Tillman (2-1, 3.24 ERA) will look to continue his great run of form against the Yankees’ 22-year-old wunderkid Luis Severino (0-3, 6.86 ERA) on Tuesday. In 16 career starts versus the Yanks, Tillman is 6-6 with a 4.96 ERA and a 1.61 WHIP. His last start versus New York came in a 9-4 Orioles win on October 4th, 2015, in which the Californian allowed two runs on seven hits over 5.1 innings with four walks and five strikeouts. Severino’s only start versus the Orioles came on October 3rd, 2015 when he took a no-decision in the O’s 4-3 win. That day, the Dominican flamethrower allowed three runs on five hits over seven innings with zero walks and six strikeouts.
Tyler Wilson (1-0, 3.06 ERA) is slated to take the mound versus CC Sabathia (1-2, 5.06 ERA) on Wednesday night. Wilson, 26, has never started a game versus the Yanks, but threw 3.1 scoreless innings out of the bullpen against them in a 5-3 Orioles loss on June 14th, 2015. Sabathia, 35, has always seemed to have the Orioles’ number over the years. In 33 career starts, the six-time All-Star is 18-7 with a 3.45 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP against Baltimore. The former Cy Young award winner allowed one run on four hits over 4.2 innings with three walks and five K’s in his last start versus Baltimore in the O’s 5-3 win on September 9th, 2015.
Mike Wright (1-2, 5.40 ERA) is set to take on Yankees ace Masahiro Tanaka (1-0, 2.87 ERA) in the series finale on Thursday. In his only start versus New York on June 14th, 2015, Wright allowed five runs on six hits over four innings with three walks and two strikeouts in a 5-3 Orioles loss. Tanaka, 28, is 1-1 with a 3.04 ERA and a nasty 0.91 WHIP in four starts versus the O’s. In his last start versus the Orioles on September 8th, 2015, the All-Star was phenomenal, allowing just one run on six hits over eight innings with one walk and ten strikeouts but received a cruel no-decision in the Orioles’ 2-1 comeback win.
With the bloodlines on this rivalry running deep, let’s take a look at a few of the catalysts in both dugouts in recent memory as we head into this rivalry’s inaugural series of 2016.
The Orioles have a handful of sluggers who have represented well in the O’s-Yankees rivalry. In 135 games versus the Yanks, Adam Jones boasts a .268 average and a .304 OBP while racking up the second-most doubles (25) and runs (73), along with the third-most hits (142), HR (19) and RBI (70) he’s recorded against a single club in his career. Chris Davis comes into the series with a .256 average and owns a .321 OBP against New York, and has recorded the third-most hits (83), doubles (17) and runs (48), the second-most HR (23) and the most RBI (71T) that he’s posted versus a single opponent, in 92 games. Manny Machado is gaining a reputation as a Yankee slayer and owns a .289 average and a .326 OBP with the third-most hits (59) and doubles (12), along with the second-most HR (8) and RBI (24) that he’s recorded against one club, in 52 games. Rivalry newcomer Mark Trumbo also boasts a .317 average with three doubles, eight home runs, 16 RBI, and a .369 OBP in 27 career games versus the Bronx Bombers.
But it goes without saying: the O’s will have to silence a few bird hunters in the upcoming series as well.
In 127 career games, Mark Teixeira is a .285 hitter with 39 2B, 25 HR, 79 RBI and a .371 OBP versus the O’s, while Carlos Beltran owns a .294 average versus Baltimore with 16 2B, 8 HR, 36 RBI and a .364 OBP in just 63 games. And then there’s Jacoby Ellsbury, who has been a permanent thorn in the Orioles side, whether it’s in a Red Sox or Yankees uniform. In 110 games, Ellsbury boasts a .313 batting average and a .359 OBP on top of the third-most RBI (43), the second-most hits (146), runs (73), and HR (11) along with the most doubles (29) and stolen bases (37) that he’s recorded against a single club. Lastly, the biggest Oriole killer of all, A-Rod. Or is it A-Roid? I can’t remember, but the latter sounds about right to me.
In a whopping 248 games versus the O’s, Alex Rodriguez comes into the series owning a .299 average and a .383 OBP with the third-most doubles (47) the second-most runs (192), hits (278) and HR (67), and the most RBI (207) that he’s posted against a single opponent. I guess it’s a good thing he’s almost 41 years old.
While the Bronx Bombers own the long-term advantage over the Orioles at 557-465, the O’s are slowly chipping away at it. Since 2012, the O’s are 41-34 against the Yanks, and are 23-15 versus them over the past two years.
Here’s to hoping that the Birds can continue to turn the tide against the Yanks in 2016!
