Series Preview: Yankees @ Orioles

Yankees - Orioles
@ Camden Yards
(three games)

After a nice weekend in the Bronx that saw the Yankees sweep three from the White Sox, the Yankees head out on a seven-game road trip starting with three games in Baltimore against the Orioles.

At 54-77 the O's are on their way to another last place finish. While they do have some good young talent - Makakis, Jones, Wieters, Reimold - as a team they really don't do anything well. They're 8th in the AL in runs scored, 11th in home runs, and 9th in team OPS. On the pitching side they rank 13th in the AL in ERA, last in strikeouts, and they've allowed the most runs in the league as a staff.

Now, they will play harder than the White Sox did, but the Yanks should still take at least two of three - I'm hoping for a sweep, especially with the Yankees big three going.

Besides that little bump in the road agaisnt the Rangers the Yankees keep on rolling. They're a season-high 34 games over .500, and at 82-48 have the best record in baseball by 4.5 games. Their lead in the AL East remains at six games because Boston has started to get their act together, and now lead the wild card by 3.5 games. Playing the last seven games against the White Sox and Blue Jays certainly helped Boston's cause.

With the way Boston is playing the Yankees need to continue to play their best baseball. There is no need to make this division race any more interesting that it already is. Boston has an off day today, and will begin a big stretch starting with three games in Tampa. The Rays trail Boston in the WC by 5.5 games.

And if you were wondering the Yankees magic number to clinch the east is at 27.

Pitching Matchups

Game 1: Tonight @ 7:05 p.m. | TV/Radio: YES, WCBS
LHP Andy Pettitte (11-6, 4.18) vs. RHP Jeremy Guthrie (9-12, 5.26)

Game 2: Tomorrow @ 7:05 p.m. | TV/Radio: YES, WCBS
RHP A.J. Burnett (10-8, 4.10) vs. RHP David Hernandez (4-6, 4.24)

Game 3: Wednesday @ 7:05 p.m. | TV/Radio: YES, WCBS
LHP CC Sabathia (15-7, 3.56) vs. RHP Jason Berken (4-11, 6.33)

Players to Watch

YANKEES: Robinson Cano - It's been a very good year for Robbie after last year's struggles, and he seems to be getting better as the season goes on. In August he's hitting .342/.353/.570 with 5 HR and 14 RBI. The big month has raised his season numbers to .315/.345/.513 with 21 HR and 70 RBI.

The Yankees second baseman has owned Orioles pitching this season, beating them up to the tune of .455/.510/.886 with 5 HR, 4 doubles and 13 RBI in 12 games this season. The numbers are just as impressive in Baltimore, where he's hitting .435/.500/.826 with 2 HR, 3 doubles, and 4 RBI. In his career against the O's he's hitting .313/.342/.531 with 13 HR and 48 RBI.

Cano vs. Guthrie: .160/.192/.320 (4-for-25) HR, 3 RBI, 7 K's
Cano vs. Hernandez: 0-for-3
Cano vs. Berken: 2-for-3, RBI

ORIOLES: Adam Jones - Though he has struggled lately, the O's centerfielder is having solid season, hitting .280/.339/.462 with 19 HR and 70 RBI.

In the 12 games against the Yankees this year he's done very well, hitting .396/.423/.708 with 3 HR and 8 RBI. He's always done well against the Yanks, hitting .319/.354/.513 in 32 career games against the Bombers.

Jones vs. Pettitte: .417/.417/.583 (5-for-12)
Jones vs. Burnett: .278/.278/.556 (5-for-18) HR, 4 RBI, 7 K's
Jones vs. Sabathia: 2-for-9, 3 K's

Injury Report

YANKEES:
- Chien-Ming Wang, SP: 15-day DL is done for the year after arthriscopic surgery on his shoulder. He will likely be out for 12 months.
- Xavier Nady, RF: Done for year, season-ending Tommy John surgery. 10-12 months to recover.
- Brett Gardner, CF: 15-day DL with a broken bone in his hand. He's starting swinging the bat last week, but continues to take his rehab slow. He should be back sometime in early September.

ORIOLES:
- Brad Bergesen, SP: 15-day DL with a left leg contusion.
- Rich Hill, SP: 15-day DL with left shoulder inflammation.
- Koji Uehara, SP: 15-day DL with right elbow tendinitis.
- Lou Montanez, LF: 15-day DL after having surgery on his right thumb - out 6-8 weeks.
- Dennis Sarfate, RP: 15-day DL with numbness in his right hand.
- Alfredo Simon, RP: 60-day DL after having right elbow surgery - out for season.