Yankees hitters vs. Baltimore Orioles’ starting rotation

The third of a series of editorials, analyzing the New York Yankees offense when facing American League East starting pitchers, this piece focuses on the Baltimore Orioles.

As most Yankees fans know, last season, the Orioles were the worst team in the AL East, finishing with a 75-87 record. Yet they were still able to finish better than eight other teams in MLB. On top of that, the O’s had the worst ERA for starting pitchers among all of MLB.

This was coming after a reasonably successful season in which the Orioles went 89-73 and just squeezed into the playoffs as one of the wild card teams. That being said, the 2016 O’s did not have too great of a rotation. The Orioles have had a rotation collapse on the rise for a few years now.

For these broader reasons, the Orioles’ pitching, starters especially, will not be much of a challenge for the Yankees if Baltimore’s rotation performs anywhere near last season. After losing veteran pitchers in Chris Tillman, Wade Miley, Ubaldo Jimenez and Jeremy Hellickson to free agency, the Orioles are looking for a revamp of their staff.

After losing veteran pitchers Chris Tillman, Wade Miley, Ubaldo Jimenez and Jeremy Hellickson to free agency, the O’s are looking to revamp their staff.

Doing so in an unconventional and flat out cheaper way, the Orioles are digging from within their organization to fill the last few rotation spots. Since moving on from these four, more established, pitchers, the Orioles have saved themselves near $50 million.

Fifty million dollars is a lot, especially with teams doing everything possible to stay under the luxury tax threshold, thanks to the new CBA agreement. This extra salary room could come in handy this time next season when 3x All-Star

This extra salary room could come in handy this time next season when three-time All-Star Manny Machado will enter free agency and the dogfight for, possibly baseball’s best third baseman, begins.

To further the blow for Baltimore, the Yankees’ offense does not look to be worsening anytime soon, with the additions to the major league roster of potential stars, Miguel Andújar and Gleyber Torres, as well as the reigning NL MVP, Giancarlo Stanton.

Nonetheless, let us dive into it, starting with who I would call the most interesting pitcher in the rotation, Dylan Bundy.