Luis Cessa (3-0, 4.01 ERA) and Yovani Gallardo (4-5, 5.08 ERA) are on the hill in the first of a three-game series between the New York Yankees (65-61) and the Baltimore Orioles (70-57) at Yankee Stadium. Action begins at 7:05 p.m. ET on Friday, Aug. 26 and can be seen on MASN and WPIX.
Cessa pitched 6.0 innings in his most recent start, surrendering zero runs, striking out five and walking one in a 5-1 win over the Angels. Didi Gregorius (.283, 53 Rs, 17 HRs, 57 RBIs, 5 SBs) went 1 for 4 Wednesday. Gallardo went 7.0 innings, surrendering four runs (one unearned), striking out three and walking three in a 5-3 defeat to the Astros in his last outing. Mark Trumbo (.257, 74 Rs, 38 HRs, 93 RBIs, 2 SBs) went 1 for 3 yesterday with one stolen base.
The odds for New York and Baltimore are even, while the Over/Under (O/U) is sitting at nine runs. Within its division, New York has a record of 19-27 SU. The Yankees have seen a decline in scoring against teams inside their division, averaging 3.5 runs per game. They average 4.2 runs per game on the season. As for the pitchers, the Yankees are the top team in the AL at limiting walks to their opponents, allowing only 2.6 walks per game so far this season. Opponents have consistently been struck out by the Yankees, who lead the AL in strikeouts per game with 8.8.
The Orioles are 26-21 against fellow AL East members. The Orioles have a dynamic offense, ranking fifth in the league with 422 extra base hits. The Orioles allow 4.5 runs per game, but have damaged those numbers in the past 10 games, allowing 6.6 runs per game during that span.
The Yankees have a 48-41 record against right-handed starting pitchers on the year, which is what they’ll be facing when Gallardo takes the mound. Cessa (RHP) will be on the hill against the Orioles, who have a 53-39 record against right-handed starting pitchers.
Predictions: SU Winner – NYY, O/U – Over
Notes
New York won its last game in a shutout, its eighth of the season. Baltimore has been shut out six times this season.
The Yankees are coming into this game after allowing two walks during their last outing. The Orioles have a 29-31 record when opponents give up two walks or less.
When they are outhit, the Yankees are 12-50. The Orioles have an 18-44 record when opponents outhit them.
Baltimore tops the league in home runs this season with 197. New York ranks in the bottom half with 140.
Ranking 14th, New York is in the top half of the league in hits, notching 8.44 per game. Baltimore ranks in the top five at fourth with 9.02.
Ranking 24th, New York is near the bottom of the league for its on-base plus slugging percentage (.716). Baltimore ranks in the top five with an OPS of .773.
The Orioles are 41-45 when they allow at least one home run. The Yankees perform similarly when they allow one or more homers with a 37-49 record.
