Yankees vs. Orioles Series Preview

Yankees vs. Orioles
New Yankee Stadium
(three games)

Things are starting to look a lot brighter in Yankeeland over the past eleven days. Alex Rodriguez is back, Brian Bruney should be back tonight, and Chien-Ming Wang is on his was back too. They've won eight of ten, six in a row, and are now 21-17, a season high four games over .500. They're currently in third place in the AL East, 4.5 games behind the first place Blue Jays, and a game behind the second place Red Sox.

After last night's I mentioned that the Yanks have been doing a lot of good things; they're starting to hit better in clutch situations, Teixeira is hitting like an All-Star, CC Sabathia is starting to regain his form, A-Rod has homered in three straight games, the younger players are contributing, they're playing very good defense, and they're playing fundamental baseball. Like I said last night, I know it could all change with one bad week, but as of right now this team playing very good baseball. Right now the only major issue is the bullpen, but with the return of Brian Bruney likely coming tonight, the pen should get better.

The Orioles come into town in last place in the AL East with a 16-22 record, 9.5 games out of first. They've been hitting the ball pretty well, but they haven't gotten any pitching. Their 5.48 team ERA currently ranks them 28th in baseball, only the Indians (5.65) and Nationals (5.90) have pitched worse.

Offensively they've been led by Nick Markakis, Adam Jones, and the fist pumping Aubrey Huff. Jones in hitting .370/.426/.669, with eight home runs, 26 RBI, and 12 doubles. He leads the team in batting average, home runs, slugging percentage (.669), on-base percentage (.424) and he's tied with Nick Markakis for the team lead in runs with 35. Markakis .336/.414/.548 with 6 HR and a team leading 34 RBI and 13 doubles. Leadoff hitter and second baseman Brian Roberts has also had a very nice start to his season. He's hitting .294./374/.464 wiht 5 HR, 16 RBI, 11 doubles, and 9 steals.

The Yankees and Orioles have split the first six games they've played this year.

Pitching Matchups

Game 1: Tonight @ 7:05 p.m. | TV/Radio: MY9, WCBS 880
CC Sabathia LHP (3-3, 3.70 ERA) vs. Brad Bergesen RHP (1-1, 5.27 ERA)

Game 2: Tomorrow @ 7:05 p.m. | TV/Radio: YES, WCBS 880
Phil Hughes RHP (1-2, 7.56 ERA) vs. Jeremy Guthrie RHP (3-3, 5.21 ERA)

Game 3: Thursday @ 7:05 p.m. | TV/Radio: My9, WCBS 880
Joba Chamberlain RHP (2-1, 3.76 ERA) vs. Adam Eaton (2-4, 7.93 ERA)

Players to Watch

YANKEES: Mark Teixeira - Since Alex Rodriguez returned to the lineup Teixeira is hitting .342/.409/.816, with 5 HR, and 13 RBI, and during the current six game winning streak he's hitting .458/.500/.958, with 3 HR and 11 RBI. I think it's safe to say he's put his terrible start behind him. He's currently hitting .239/.358/.515, with a team leading 10 homers (tied with Johnny Damon) and 28 RBI.

In his career against the Orioles Teixeira is hitting .298/.374/.620, with 15 HR and 39 RBI in 44 games. This year he's struggled in the six games they've played this year hitting .208/.296/.625, but he has hit three homers and driven in four runs.

Teixeira vs. Bergesen: NR
Teixeria vs. Guthrie: 0-for-4, with three BB and two strike outs
Teixeira vs. Eaton: .600/.667/1.500 (6-for-10), 2B, 3B, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 2 BB

ORIOLES: Adam Jones - The Orioles centerfielder is quickly becoming a force at the top of the O's lineup. As I mentioned above the 23-year old is off to a great start and leads the team in many offensive categories.

He also seems to enjoy Yankees pitching. In 26 career games he's hitting .309/.347/.479, with 2 HR and 15 RBI. At Yankee Stadium he hit .298/.340/.468, with a homer and 9 RBI.
This season he's really been killing the Yankees. Hitting .435/.462/783 with a homer, 5 RBI, and three doubles.

Jones vs. Sabathia: .500/.571/.833 (3-for-6), triple, 2 RBI
Jones vs. Hughes: .600/.600/1.000 (3-for-5), two doubles, 2 RBI
Jones vs. Chamberlain: .250/.250/.250 (2-for-8), 3 K

Injury Report

YANKEES:
- Brian Bruney, RP: 15-day DL with a sore right elbow, but should be activated prior to tonight's game.
- Brett Gardner, CF: Day-to-day with a contusion to his right rotator cuff.
- Xavier Nady, RF: 15-day DL with an injured right elbow. It was thought that he would need season-ending surgery, but it is now being reported that he may avoid the surgery and be back by mid June.
- Cody Ransom, INF: 60-day DL with a strained right quad.
- Chien-Ming Wang, SP: 15-day DL with hip abductor muscle weakness. He's made two rehab starts for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and will be in New York today to throw a side session in front of Joe Girardi and his coaching staff.
- Damaso Marte, RP: 15-day DL with a sore shoulder.
- Jorge Posada, C: 15-day DL with a strained right hamstring. He will miss at least 2-3 weeks.
- Jose Molina, C: On the 15-day DL with a strained left quad.

ORIOLES:
- Adam Jones, CF: Has missed a few games due to hamstring injury, but is expected back in the lineup tonight.
- Cesar Izturis, SS: Is day-to-day after straining his left groin.
- Luke Scott, LF: On the 15-day DL with a strained left shoulder.
- Dennis Sarfate, RP: 15-day DL after having numbness in his right hand.
- Alfredo Smith, RP: Out for the season after having surgery on his right elbow.