The Baltimore Orioles have sprung to the pinnacle of the AL East by compiling baseball’s best road record. But to keep that pace, they’ll have to beat the New York Yankees at home this week, something they’ve had trouble doing lately.
The Orioles and Yankees begin a two-game series Monday at Camden Yards, where the Yankees are actually favored by 1 1/2 runs, according to Bovada‘s Yankees vs. Orioles Betting Lines, despite being the road team.
That could stem from Baltimore’s troubles at home recently, where it’s 3-4 during a current nine-game homestand. The Orioles dropped under .500 after losing to the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday, snapping a seven-game win streak against division opponents. They’ve had success against the Yankees, pounding them in the Bronx two weeks ago.
Baltimore is 2 1/2 games up on New York, a lead that could be greater if not for losing the finale against Tampa Bay.
“This team never gives up,” said catcher Matt Wieters. “We had a chance in the ninth and just didn’t come through. It would have been a nice game to win, but at the same time you know this team is going to keep playing hard and we’re not out of any game. That’s how we feel in this clubhouse.”
Both teams come in with hot offenses. The Orioles lead the league with 56 home runs, just out front of New York, which has 53 on the year.
The problem for the Yankees has been a meager pitching staff struggling to find a go-to guy, ranking near the bottom of the AL in ERA, WHIP and quality starts. Ivan Nova gets the ball tonight trying to turn things around. He’s been up and down against the Orioles, winning in his first start on April 9, but getting roughed up on May 2.
He faces off against Baltimore’s Jason Hammel, who has been a nice surprise 
since singing this winter. He’s 4-1 with a 2.09 ERA and has yet to surrender more than two runs in any start. Problem is, his lone loss came to New York, and he’s been pretty miserable lifetime against the Bombers, going 1-3 with a 6.69 ERA in 12 appearances.
Hammel has been battling a sore knee, too, but will make his start.
“We plan on him pitching Monday,” manager Buck Showalter told the team’s website. “I saw him (Sunday), he came in, he had a smile on his face, got his normal stuff done.”