Series Preview Yanks @ O's

Yankees - Orioles
@ Camden Yards
(3 games)

After taking two of three from the Orioles at The Stadium last week the Yankees travel t0 Baltimore for another three game series between the two teams. So far this season they have split the 6 games that they've played against each other.

Both teams come into this series moving in the opposite direction, the Orioles have lost 5 in a row, and yesterday fell into last place in the AL East. The were swept over the weekend in Tampa.

The Yankees, on the other hand, just swept Seattle for the second time this season, have won 5 in a row, and moved out of last place for the first time since May 15th. They're playing their best baseball of the year right now, but we all know how quickly that can change. The Yanks are currently in 4th place and 5 games behind first place Tampa in the AL East.

MATCHUPS

Game 1 - Today @ 1:35 p.m.
TV: YES, Radio: WCBS 880
Darrell Rasner RHP (3-0, 1.89) vs. Garrett Olson LHP (3-1, 5.19)

Game 2 - Tomorrow @ 7:05 p.m.
TV: YES, Radio: WCBS 880
Ian Kennedy RHP (0-3, 7.27) vs. Brian Burres LHP (4-4, 3.16)

Game 3 - Wednesday @ 7:05 p.m.
TV: YES, Radio: WCBS 880
Andy Pettitte LHP (4-5, 4.27) vs. Jeremy Guthrie RHP (2-5, 3.62)

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Yankees - Hideki Matsui: Matsui has been the Yankees most consistent hitter this season, he leads the team with a .321 batting avg., and he has 6 HR and 23 RBI. He's always done well against the Orioles in his career, in 84 games he's hit .304, with 11 HR, 54 RBI, and an OPS of .863. At Camden Yards he's hit .326 with 5 HR, 28 RBI, and a .917 OPS in 38 games.

In 6 games this season he's hitting .300 (6-for-20) with a double, 1 RBI, and a .790 OPS.

Matsui vs. Olson: 0-for-1, BB
Matsui vs. Burres: .364 (4-for-11), 2 HR, 2 RBI, 1.371 OPS
Matsui vs. Guthrie: .250 (2-for-8), .583 OPS

Orioles - Kevin Millar: Usually I'd say Nick Markakis who is clearly the O's best overall player, but I'm getting bored of picking the same player over and over again, so this time around I'm picking Yankee-killer, and former Red Sock Kevin Millar.

This season Millar is hitting .333 (8-for-24) against the Bombers with 2 HR, 2 RBI, and an OPS of 1.010, and in 99 career games he's hitting .296, with 17 HR, 48 RBI, and an .877 OPS.

Millar vs. Rasner: .500 (3-for-6), 1 HR, 2 RBI, 1.667 OPS
Millar vs. Kennedy: .200 (1-for-5), 1 HR, 1 RBI, 1.000 OPS
Millar vs. Pettitte: .286 (8-for-28), 1 RBI, .632 OPS

INJURY REPORT

Yankees:
- Jorge Posada is still on the DL with a shoulder injury. He was sent down to Tampa to begin an extended spring training. He could be back in the middle of June.
- Phil Hughes is out until at least July with a stress fracture of the rib.
- Brian Bruney might miss the rest of the season with an injured foot.
- Jonathan Albaladejo is on the 15-day DL with a sprained ulnar collateral ligament and a strained posterior capsule in his elbow.

Orioles:
- Randor Bierd is on the DL with a shoulder injury, but will begin a throwing program Monday.
- Danys Baez is on the 15-day DL with an elbow injury.
- Chris Ray is recovering from shoulder surgery and may miss the entire season.
- Adam Loewen is in the DL with shoulder soreness and is a long way from returning.