The New York Yankees arrived in Baltimore on Monday to open a three-game series against the Orioles after a weekend sweep in Milwaukee knocked them off a fast start. First pitch at Oriole Park at Camden Yards was slated for 6:35 p.m. ET, with New York entering at 26-15 and Baltimore at 18-23.
The Yankees had gone 6-1 with a plus-34 run differential in their previous seven games before the Brewers swept them 3-0. Baltimore, meanwhile, beat the Athletics 2-1 on Sunday but came into the series 3-8 over its last 11 games. The Orioles also had lost nine straight against New York, and the Yankees had swept Baltimore 4-0 at Yankee Stadium from May 1-4.
Monday’s matchup was more than a quick reset for both clubs. It was the next meeting between AL East foes heading in different directions, with New York still carrying one of the stronger overall profiles in the division and Baltimore trying to halt a slide that has left it under.500. The Yankees had won seven straight series openers before the weekend set against the Brewers, a run that underscored how often they have set the tone early this season.
Aaron Weathers was making his eighth start for Baltimore. He entered at 2-2 with a 3.03 ERA, a 1.19 WHIP, 2.3 walks per nine and 10.5 strikeouts per nine across 38 2/3 innings. Young was making his fifth start for New York. He was 3-1 with a 4.35 ERA, a 1.45 WHIP, 3.5 walks per nine and 6.1 strikeouts per nine in 20 2/3 innings. Baltimore bats owned a.649 OPS against Weathers, a number that sharpened the edge on a game already tilted by the broader form of the two lineups.
The run totals also pointed toward a tighter game than the records alone might suggest. Baltimore was averaging 4.41 runs per game while allowing 5.41, while New York was scoring 5.24 and giving up 3.26. The under had cashed in three straight New York games and in four straight Baltimore games, and BetMGM Sportsbook listed New York (-150) as the value side with the under 9 (-115) the leverage play. For the Orioles, the task was simple and difficult at the same time: end the skid against the Yankees before it grows into something larger.
