Yankees Look To Continue Dominance Against Orioles
August 31, 2009 · Jordan Schwartz · Jump to comments
Article Source: Bleacher Report - New York Yankees
After sweeping the White Sox, the Yankees (82-48) begin a seven-game road trip in Baltimore.
The Orioles (54-77) just took two of four from Cleveland, but they remain in last place in the AL East, 5.5 games behind fourth place Toronto.
New York has dominated the Birds this season, beating them in nine of their 12 prior contests, and this week shouldn’t be any different as the Yanks seem to have the pitching advantage in each game.
Monday, August 31 – Andy Pettitte (11-6, 4.18) vs. Jeremy Guthrie (9-12, 5.26)
Pettitte hasn’t lost since July 25 and chances are that streak will continue against the Orioles. In 38 games against Baltimore (36 starts), the southpaw is an outstanding 25-6 with a 3.65 ERA. He allowed only one run over 7 1/3 innings on July 20 at home against the O’s. However, the lefty’s ERA is nearly a full run higher (4.41) in 22 career appearances at the bandbox known as Camden Yards.
Adam Jones is 5-for-12 (.417) with a triple against Pettitte, while Nick Markakis is 9-for-27 (.333) with two homers and Melvin Mora is 11-for-35 (.314) with 10 walks.
Leadoff hitter Brian Roberts has just a .298 on base percentage in 57 plate appearances, though, and Ty Wiggington is 2-for-18 (.111) with five strikeouts.
Guthrie, meanwhile, has won his last two starts, surrendering just a run and six hits over seven innings in each. In his most recent game in Minnesota, the right-hander didn’t walk a single batter for the first time since April 11. Still, his 12 losses are the second most in the league.
Two of those defeats came against the Yankees in May, but Guthrie also beat the Bombers on April 6. This season, he’s 1-2 with a 5.21 ERA versus New York. In his career, he’s 3-4 with a 4.66 ERA against the Pinstripes.
Melky Cabrera is 8-for-18 (.444) with three doubles and a homer off Guthrie, while Nick Swisher is 6-for-14 (.429) also with three doubles and a home run.
Hideki Matsui (5-for-23), Alex Rodriguez (4-for-19) and Robinson Cano (4-for-25, 7 K) all struggle against the 30-year-old.
Prediction: Yankees 5, Orioles 3
Tuesday, September 1 – A.J. Burnett (10-8, 4.10) vs. David Hernandez (4-6, 4.24)
Burnett has to be glad August is over. He went 0-4 with a 6.03 ERA in the month and received just 13 runs of support over six starts. During his last outing, the right-hander struck out 12 Rangers but still took the loss when Phil Coke couldn’t keep the Yankees close.
Burnett has beaten the Orioles twice this year, giving up just four runs in 12 1/3 innings, and he is 9-1 lifetime with a 4.61 ERA. He’s 4-0 with a 3.82 ERA in Baltimore.
Luke Scott is 5-for-10 (.500) with three extra base hits against the 32-year-old, but Wiggington is 4-for-20 (.200) with five strikeouts and Cesar Izturis is 1-for-12 (.083).
Hernandez is winless in his last three starts (0-2), and the rookie has never beaten the Yankees, despite pitching well (6 IP, 1 ER) in his only start against them on July 20. In that game, he allowed just three hits, including a solo shot by Eric Hinske.
Prediction: Yankees 6, Orioles 4
Wednesday, September 2 – CC Sabathia (15-7, 3.56) vs. Jason Berken (4-11, 6.33)
In his last outing against the White Sox, Sabathia picked up his first no decision in 13 starts, but he still hasn’t lost since July 28. The left-hander leads the AL in wins and innings pitched and he has a 1.93 ERA and a 44:6 strikeout to walk ratio over his last five starts.
Sabathia allowed six runs at Baltimore on the opening day, but he got his revenge against the Birds during two starts in May when he let just one run be scored during 16 innings of work. He’s 7-1 with a 2.55 ERA in his career against the Orioles and 4-1 with a 3.07 at Camden Yards.
Jones is 4-for-9 (.444) with a triple, but the rest of the team hasn’t had a lot of success against the southpaw. Roberts is 6-for-24 (.250) with six strikeouts, Wiggington is 4-for-17 (.235), Markakis is 2-for-12 (.167) and Mora is 3-for-29 (.103).
Berken has won back-to-back games for the first time this season, but he surrendered five runs in six innings during a 6-4 loss to the Yankees on July 22. In that game, the rookie gave up a home run to Jorge Posada and two hits to Cano.
Prediction: Yankees 7, Orioles 2
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Jordan Schwartz is Bleacher Report’s New York Yankees Community Leader. His book “Memoirs of the Unaccomplished Man” is available at amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, and authorhouse.com.
Jordan can be reached at jordanschwartz2003@yahoo.com
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