New York Yankees Look To Continue Roll Against First-Place O's
Jul 23, 2015; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees shortstop Didi Gregorius (18) singles to right allowing a runner to score during the first inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports

Following a two-game sweep in Boston, the New York Yankees return to the Bronx for a weekend series with the first-place Orioles. 

  • Baltimore Orioles (14-6)
  • New York Yankees (13-7)
  • American League, 7:05 p.m. ET, YES Network, WFAN 660 AM-101.9 FM
  • Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY
The New York Yankees are back in town coming off a series sweep at Fenway Park and if they can pull off a three-game sweep against the Baltimore Orioles this weekend, they’ll take sole possession of first place in the American League East.

Getting the nod for New York will be CC Sabathia, who’s coming off his first loss of the season on April 21 at Pittsburgh in an eventual 6-3 defeat. His current 2.70 ERA is his lowest ERA through his first four starts of a season since he posted a 1.57 ERA in 2013.



The 36-year-old has already faced the Orioles in 2017 and held them to three runs (two earned) over six innings of work. Opposing him for Baltimore will be Kevin Gausman, who was hit around quite well against the Yankees when they played at Camden Yards earlier in the month.

In 4.2 innings, Gausman walked three, let up four runs on eight hits during a no-decision in an eventual 6-5 win for the Orioles. In nine games (six starts) at Yankee Stadium, he owns a 2.38 ERA and 38 strikeouts over 41.2 innings of work.

Lineups:

Player To Watch: Brett Gardner

The longest-tenured Yankee may be struggling right now (.103 since April 12), but Gausman is just the hurler Gardner wants to see on the hill tonight as he looks to break out of this abysmal funk.

In 31 career at-bats off the 26-year-old, the speedster owns 10 hits (.323 BA) including three extra-base hits. One of those came on July 13, 2014, when Gardner went deep with a solo home run to lead off the contest on Sunday Night Baseball.

Knight In Shining Armour: 

Didi Gregorius, who has missed time with a shoulder strain suffered in the World Baseball Classic, will be reinstated from the disabled list ahead of Friday’s series opener against the Baltimore Orioles at Yankee Stadium.

He is batting sixth, is at shortstop tonight and manager Joe Girardi should be salivating at the thought that his lineup, which entered play on Thursday with the highest wRC+ in baseball, is getting back a player who hit 20 home runs in 2016.

In five rehab games for the High-A Tampa Yankees, Gregorius went 8-for-18 (.444) with a home run and two RBIs. In order to make room for his reinstatement, the Yankees designated Pete Kozma for assignment.

This Day In Yankees History: 

On April 28, 1989, Rickey Henderson ripped his 36th career leadoff home run off Shawn Hillegas in an eventual 3-1 win against the Chicago White Sox at Yankee Stadium. The shot broke the tie with Bobby Bonds (35) for sole possession of the all-time leadoff home run record.