Yankees @ Orioles Series Preview

Yankees - Orioles

Oriole Park at Camden Yards
(3 games)

It was just before the last series with the Orioles that the Yanks had me believing. They had just won 8 out of 9, capping it off by taking two out of three from the Red Sox at Fenway, and trailed the Rays by just three games in the division and the Red Sox by two in the Wild Card. But then the last place Orioles came to Yankee Stadium and took two out of three to began a terrible three+ week stretch that saw the Yanks go 9-14 and fall to 10.5 games out in the division, and six out in the Wild Card.

So now, with another series with the Orioles about to begin, I, and I'm sure many other Yankees fans have pretty much stopped believing. Six games isn't insurmountable, but this team just hasn't shown any signs that they can makeup the deficit. You keep hoping that this will be the series when the Yankees wake up and get on a role, but it just hasn't happened yet.

The Orioles are currently in last place in the AL East with a record of 61-65.

The Yankees and Orioles have played 12 times this season, with the Orioles winning seven of them.

MATCHUPS

Game 1 - Today @ 7:05 p.m.
TV: MY9; Radio: WCBS 880
Mike Mussina (16-7, 3.35) RHP vs. Radhames Liz RHP (4-3, 7.47)

Game 2 - Tomorrow @ 7:05 p.m.
TV: YES; Radio: WCBS 880
Carl Pavano RHP vs. Jeremy Guthrie RHP (10-6, 3.15)

Game 3 - Sunday @ 1:05 p.m.
TV: YES; Radio: WCBS 880
Darrell Rasner RHP (5-9, 4.93) vs. Daniel Cabrera RHP (8-8, 4.98)

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Yankees - Johnny Damon: If this team is going to score runs they are going to need Johnny Damon to get on base. If he continues to play the way he has against the Orioles this season, that shouldn't be a problem. In 12 games this season Damon is hitting .429/.500/.653 against the O's, with 3 HR and 12 RBI.

Damon has hit the Orioles well throughout his career, in 173 games he's hitting .303/.361/.469 with 24 HR and 97 RBI.

Damon vs. Liz: NR
Damon vs. Guthrie: .333 (5-for-15), HR, 2 RBI
Damon vs. Cabrera: .194 (6-for-31), 5 RBI

Orioles - Kevin Millar: The idiot who coined the phrase "cowboy up" has somehow become a Yankee-Killer. It doesn't matter how good or bad a year he is having, when he plays against the Yanks he hits. This season he's hitting just .247/.339/.419, but against the Yankees he's hitting .340/.389/.760, with 6 HR and 9 RBI.

In his career against the Yankees Millar is hitting .299/.382/.522, with 21 homers and 55 RBI.

Millar vs. Mussina: .439 (18-for-41), 3 2B, 3 HR, 11 RBI, 1.253 OPS
Millar vs. Pavano: .273 (3-for-11), 2B, RBI
Millar vs. Rasner: .500 (6-for-12), 2 HR, 3 RBI

INJURY REPORT

Yankees:
- Dan Giese is on the 15-day DL with rotator cuff tendinitis.
- Joba Chamberlain has rotator cuff tendinitis, and is on the 15-day DL. He has begun throwing and is working his way back, although the Yanks will continue to take it very slow with Joba.
- Chien-Ming Wang is out until at least early October with a mid-foot tearing of the Lisfranc ligament and a partial tear of the peroneal longus tendon. It looks more and more likely that he is done for the year.
- Phil Hughes is off the DL and making rehab starts in the minors. He will make at least one more start with AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre before returning to the Bronx.
- Jonathan Albaladejo is out for the year with a stress fracture in his right elbow.
- Jorge Posada is out for the remainder of the season after having shoulder surgery.

Orioles:
- George Sherrill is on the 15-day DL with left shoulder inflammation.
- Adam Jones in on the 15-day DL with a sore left foot.
- Greg Aquino is on the 15-day DL with a strained left hamstring.
- Adam Loewen is on the 60-day DL with a stress fracture in his left elbow.
- Matt Albers is on the 60-day DL with a torn labrum in his right shoulder.
- Jim Hoey is out of the year after having right shoulder surgery.
- Troy Patton is out for the year with a torn left labrum.
- Chris Ray is recovering from right elbow surgery and is out for the year.
- Danys Baez is recovering from right elbow surgery and is also out for the year.