After taking care of business against the Kansas City Royals, the New York Yankees host the Baltimore Orioles for a short two-game set in the Bronx.
The Orioles are on a three-game winning streak after taking three of four against the Tampa Bay Rays at Camden Yards. During their streak, the O’s have scored 11 or more runs in each game and produced a total of 37 runs.
The Yankees have won two in a row and four of their last six games and are looking to continue their winning ways to reduce the gap that the Boston Red Sox have opened atop the A.L East. On Monday the Yankees began the day six games behind Boston.
It’s hard to ignore Neil Walker’s impact on the lineup as of late. Over his last 14 games, the versatile veteran is hitting .419 with a 1.062 OPS, five extra-base hits and 10 runs batted in. He’s even raised his season batting average by nearly 50 points over that span.
Walker has been the main beneficiary of Aaron Judge being placed on the 10-day DL with a wrist injury as he’s receiving an extended look at the DH spot. Look for Walker to stay hot at Yankee Stadium, where he’s hit .273 this season.
In Game 1 on Tuesday night Masahiro Tanaka (8-2, 3.84 ERA) will get the start against former Yankee product Yefry Ramirez (1-3) who on his last start against the Boston Red Sox finally earned his first win of the season.
Tanaka produced a gem in what was his best start of the season in his last outing as he pitched nine scoreless innings with nine strikeouts and just three hits against the Tampa Bay Rays.
For Wednesday’s early game the Yankees will send Sonny Gray (8-7, 5.08 ERA) to the mound against the Orioles Alex Cobb (2-14, 6.08 ERA).
Gray is seeking his fourth straight victory and has a 1.10 ERA with 19 strikeouts in his past three starts, in which he’s held opponents to a .155 batting average.
The Orioles surging bats will look to play spoiler in the Bronx as the Yankees remain focused on keeping pace in the division with the Red Sox before both teams begin a four-game series at Fenway Park on Thursday.
