After getting dealt a three-game sweep in the “Beltway Series” against the Nationals, the Orioles will now take on the Yankees for a four-game set before hitting the road again.
The Orioles (17-39) will look to snap a five-game losing streak in tonight’s series opener, and have gone just 4-11 over their last 15 contests. They’re also trying to avoid a 20-loss month with a record of 9-19 going into the final day of May.
The Yankees (35-17) will be feeling good after taking two of three from the reigning champion Houston Astros in the Bronx before. Just two games off the pace of the division-leading Red Sox, the Yanks are in fine form and have posted an impressive 17-7 record this month.
Andrew Cashner (2-6, 5.07 ERA) will take on Sonny Gray (3-4, 5.98 ERA) in the series opener.
Cashner took the loss after giving up five runs on 11 hits over five innings against the Rays during his last start. He’s recorded just one quality start in his last seven attempts and owns a 5.47 ERA through five starts in May.
Gray was tagged for five runs on seven hits over just 3 2/3 innings in his latest outing against the Angels. After posting a horrid 6.67 ERA over six starts in April, Gray has seen a slight turnaround this month with a 2-2 record and a 5.16 ERA through four starts. The Bombers are surely hoping for better results from their star pitcher going forward.
Kevin Gausman (3-4, 4.31 ERA) will take the mound against Masahiro Tanaka (6-2, 4.62 ERA) on Friday.
Gausman coughed up seven runs on six hits over just 2 2/3 innings during his last start in Tampa, and will need to bounce back quickly against the Yankees. Despite being in excellent form for most of the season, Gausman has allowed thirteen runs over his last 13 2/3 innings after two rough recent outings. His ERA has jumped from 3.18 to 4.31 over his last three starts.
Tankaka notched his sixth win of the season after holding the Angels to one run on three hits over six innings in his last start. It was the only time this month in which he’s held an opponent to three runs or less. In five starts in May, Tanaka has gone 2-0 despite ownining a 4.94 ERA.
Alex Cobb (1-7, 6.80 ERA) will match-up against Domingo German (0-3, 5.45 ERA) on Saturday.
Cobb turned in a very solid outing his last time out and held the Nationals to three runs on five hits over seven innings, but took the loss in the 6-0 Nats’ win. Cobb has recorded an impressive month in which he’s posted four quality starts in six attempts. The hope is that he will only get better from this point on.
German took the loss after giving up three runs over 5 2/3 innings against the Astros, and is still searching for his first big league win. Through four starts in May, German has went 0-2 with a 5.55 ERA.
Dylan Bundy (3-7, 4.46 ERA) will go up against CC Sabathia (2-1, 3.73 ERA) in Sunday’s series finale.
Bundy battled admirably during his last start against the Nationals, but took the loss after allowing three runs on 11 hits over six innings. Bundy looks to be back in-form after allowing just six runs over his last 15 innings of work, but still owns a 2-4 record and a 6.12 ERA through six starts in May due to his prior struggles.
Sabathia took the no-decision against the Astros after giving up three runs on eight hits over five innings in an eventual Yankees win. The Yankees veteran hurler has come back down to earth after an incredible month of April and owns a 5.92 ERA through five starts in May.
That’s all for now, folks!
Here’s to ending the losing streak.
