Yanks Go Yard Radio Show: Orioles-Yankees (8/26-8/28)

On last night’s episode of the Yanks Go Yard Radio Show, we looked ahead to a big series for the Yankees this weekend against the Orioles

At the beginning of last night’s Yanks Go Yard Radio Show, I gave my takeaways from the New York Yankees (65-61) taking two out of three from the Seattle Mariners at SAFECO Field. C.C. Sabathia and Masahiro had good pitching performances in the final two games, but the main headline continues to be catcher Gary Sanchez.

This week, Sanchez had three home runs against Seattle and was intentionally walked in his last two at-bats on Wednesday to get to Mark Teixeira. With their success against Seattle, the Yankees are now 5.5 games back in the AL East and 4.5 games behind the Orioles for the second Wild Card spot.

Tonight, the Yankees begin a big three game series against the Baltimore Orioles (70-57) at Yankee Stadium. This week, the Orioles won three out of four games against the Washington Nationals. But, they were shutout last night against Max Scherzer.

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Buck Showalter’s team is 11-12 this month. Despite the under .500 record, their offense has hit the most home runs of any team in the American League this month with 43 (Yankees are second with 34). First baseman Chris Davis and right fielder Mark Trumbo each have eight home runs and third baseman Manny Machado leads the team in RBI’s this month with 20.

Offense has not been the issue for the Orioles this season. The problem for them has been their starting rotation, which took another hit this week. Chris Tillman was placed on the disabled list Wednesday because of shoulder inflammation. Baltimore did add another starter at the trade deadline when they acquired Wade Miley from the Mariners.

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Despite the struggles of the rotation, the O’s bullpen has been one of the best, if not the best bullpen in baseball. Darren O’Day is on the disabled list because of a rotator cuff, but Brad Brach has a 1.57 ERA this season and closer Zach Britton (38 saves, 0.69 ERA) has given up one earned run since April 30.

To talk more about the Orioles, my guest on the Yanks Go Yard Radio Show last night was the co-editor of The Baltimore Wire, Joe Serpico. Joe gave his take on the acquisition of Miley and he talked more about the unsung heroes in the O’s bullpen. Here are some of the topics we talked about on the show:

• Impact of Tillman going on the disabled list?
• Any concern that the O’s have the fewest stolen bases in the league?
• Pitching Matchup breakdown
• Yovani Gallardo (tonight’s O’s starter) has a 6.14 ERA on the road this season
• Breaking down Luis Cessa (tonight’s Yankees starter) first start in the big leagues?
• Dylan Bundy (tomorrow’s Orioles starter) has had success against some of the better lineups in the league this month?
• Chad Green (tomorrow’s Yankees starter) has given up one earned run in his last two starts
• Kevin Gausman (Sunday’s O’s starter) has had success against the Yankees, but he has struggled on the road
• Why Sunday is the biggest start for Michael Pineda this season?
• Yankees hitters to watch: Aaron Hicks and Ronald Torreyes
• Orioles hitters to watch: Jonathan Schoop and Adam Jones
• What are Britton’s chances of winning the Cy Young?
• More likely for Orioles: AL East Champions or Wild Card?

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