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New York Yankees Series Preview: AL East Battle In Birdland

Pitching Matchups:

Nathan Eovaldi (6-2, 3.71 ERA) vs. Chris Tillman (7-1, 2.92 ERA)

Tonight’s series opener will feature two right-handers who have been superb for their respective teams.

Nathan Eovaldi has won his last five starts, lowering his ERA to 3.71 in the process. He can thank the deflated ERA due to a 6-0, 2.72 ERA split over his last seven starts. The flame thrower has been everything the Yankees could have hoped after a slight rough patch to start the season.

Tillman has been brilliant all year for the Orioles. The numbers speak for themselves, and he carries a 6-0, 2.33 ERA split of his own over his last seven starts. He faced the Yankees back on May 3rd, coming out victorious by striking out nine over seven outstanding frames.

Ivan Nova (3-3, 3.98 ERA) vs. Tyler Wilson (2-4, 3.83 ERA)

Saturday’s matchup will see another face off of right-handers with upside.

Ivan Nova will take the ball for New York. The 29-year-old has been stellar since rejoining the rotation, pitching to a 3.41 ERA in five starts. However he has allowed four runs in each of his last two starts, losing both to the Toronto Blue Jays.

Tyler Wilson will oppose Nova on the mound for the O’s. The 26-year-old has spent his last seven appearances in the starting staff after initially coming out of Baltimore’s bullpen. In those starts, he has pitched to a 4.35 ERA and has averaged just under six innings an outing.

CC Sabathia (3-4, 2.85 ERA) vs. Kevin Gausman (0-3, 3.78 ERA)

Sunday’s series finale will feature yet another plus pitching matchup.

CC Sabathia pitched to an absolutely terrific 1.04 ERA in the month of may as he continues to make an Andy Pettitte-like transformation. He has developed an ability to throw the right pitches in the right counts. The 35-year-old’s sinker is staying down and away, his changeup has been effective, and he has re-found an outstanding backdoor slider. A tough-luck loss was charged to CC in his last outing as he surrendered only five hits and two runs in six-plus innings.

Kevin Gausman, a 25-year-old power arm for Baltimore, has yet to pick up a win in eight starts this season. His ERA was not helped in his last outing, when he allowed five earned runs in a loss to Boston at Camden Yards.