The Baltimore Orioles need better results against the New York Yankees this week than in a recent series with the American League East rivals.
The three-game series begins Monday night in Baltimore.
The Yankees are suddenly reeling with a three-game losing streak and losses in four of their last five games. New York fell by 4-3 scores in its last two games, including Sunday at Milwaukee.
“Tough weekend obviously,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “Didn’t play our best and they pitched really well against us and matched really well against us.”
The Yankees scored six runs in 28 innings in Milwaukee.
So a change of scenery might be good for New York, which fell into second place behind the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday.
“Look forward to getting on to Baltimore and righting the ship,” Boone said.
The Orioles won 2-1 against the visiting Athletics on Sunday, but it was only their third victory in their last 11 games.
“We know we can make those wins and we’ve just got to keep going and stay together,” Baltimore outfielder Leody Taveras said. “We’re going to have those types of games. We’ve just got to stay together.”
Part of the Orioles’ slump included getting swept by the Yankees in four games to begin May. New York outscored the Orioles by a combined score of 39-10 in those games.
The Orioles need to shore up their pitching and defense. They allowed three or more runs in 25 consecutive games before Sunday.
“We’ve shown that we could play clean defense, but also, we’ve shown that we haven’t,” manager Craig Albernaz said. “That’s the inconsistency of everything and that’s why our guys are diligent with their work. It’s not from a lack of prep, lack of work or lack of care.”
The defense provided a boost when Taveras threw out a runner at the plate.
Baltimore’s offense has been inconsistent, but at least various players have come through at different times. Dylan Beavers provided the clutch go-ahead hit Sunday.
“That’s his calling card,” Albernaz said. “That’s what I love about him. He grinds out at-bats, great strike zone awareness, great plate discipline and he has thump.”
Right-hander Brandon Young (3-1, 4.35 ERA) probably will be on the mound for the Orioles on Monday, with Albernaz saying there has been movement among available pitchers so there’s a chance that could change. Young has never faced the Yankees.
Baltimore has won three of the four games in which Young has worked this season, including Wednesday’s six-inning effort at Miami.
Left-hander Ryan Weathers (2-2, 3.03) is lined up to be the starter for the Yankees. He hasn’t pitched since May 2 when he was the winning pitcher against Baltimore, which was limited to one run and three hits in five innings.
That marked the fifth consecutive outing of five or more innings for Weathers. Earlier this month is the only time Weathers has faced the Orioles in parts of five seasons.
For the Yankees, Boone said it was good to see rookie outfielder Spencer Jones notch his first career hit Sunday in his third game in the big leagues.
–Field Level Media
