Gerrit Cole, one of this season’s stingiest pitchers, is set to take the mound for the New York Yankees (29-20) as they face off against the Baltimore Orioles (31-16) at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday for the opener of a three-game series.
The Orioles are in the midst of a six-game road trip. They are coming off a three-game sweep of the Blue Jays, taking the finale 8-3 on Sunday at Rogers Centre.
Cedric Mullins was 5 for 6 with two doubles, one run, and three RBIs. Austin Hays went 3 for 4 with a double, one run, and one RBI. The Yankees are back home for a six-game homestand after returning from a successful seven-game road trip (6-1).
They are coming off a three-game sweep of the Reds, taking the finale 4-1 on Sunday at Great American Ball Park for their fourth straight win. Greg Allen went 1 for 1 with a triple and one run.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
The Yankees have won two of three in the season series between the AL East rivals, including a 5-3 victory in their most recent meeting on April 9 at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.
Starter Nestor Cortes went 5.1 innings, giving up two runs on four hits, to get the win, and Clay Holmes earned his third save with a scoreless ninth.
ON THE MOUND
Kyle Bradish (2-1, 3.90 ERA) is in line to get the start for Baltimore. The righty allowed one run over 6.2 innings in his last start, a 3-1 road win over the Angels on Wednesday. He was credited with the win, giving up four hits while striking out five.
Bradish is making his first appearance against the Yankees this season. Over two starts against the Yankees in 2022, Bradish was 0-1 with a 3.86 ERA over 9.1 innings. He had 11 strikeouts and eight walks. For New York, righty Cole (5-0, 2.01 ERA) gets the ball.
It’s his first appearance of the season against the Orioles. Cole made three appearances against the Orioles in 2022, all starts, striking out 22 and walking two over 21 innings (1-2, 4.29).
In his last start on Wednesday, Cole took a no-decision on the road against the Blue Jays. He threw six scoreless innings and gave up seven hits, striking out six and walking two in the 3-0 loss. The RHP ranks second in the AL in ERA, tied for third in strikeouts (68), and tied for fourth in wins.
AT THE PLATE
The Baltimore offense is averaging 5.1 runs per game for the season, with a slash line of .254/.330/.427. Four Orioles hitters have an OPS of .800 or better, led by Mullins (.876).
The center fielder is slashing .283/.367/.509 with seven home runs, 38 RBIs, and 23 runs over 47 games. Against right-handed pitchers like Cole this season, the O’s have a .738 OPS.
Hays is the team’s most productive hitter against right-handers with a .911 OPS in 102 at-bats. New York is slashing .236/.310/.418 for the season and averaging 4.6 runs per game.
Aaron Judge leads the team with a 1.042 OPS. The right fielder has 13 home runs, 32 RBIs, and 31 runs scored with a slash line of .299/.400/.642.
The Yanks have a .724 OPS against right-handers in 2023. With a 1.148 OPS over 109 at-bats, Judge also has been their best hitter against right-handers.
HOME AND AWAY
Baltimore is on a three-game winning streak away from Oriole Park at Camden Yards, bringing their record to 16-8 in 2023. The O’s have scored 5.8 runs per game away from home, while allowing 4.6 runs.
New York has gone 16-10 at their home ballpark this season, averaging 4.7 runs per game while surrendering 3.8. In the last 10 games at Yankee Stadium between the teams, New York is 6-4 with an average scoreline of 5.7-4.0.
STANDINGS UPDATE
The Orioles are second in the AL East, two games behind the division-leading Rays. The Yankees are third in the AL East, five games behind the Rays.
