Yankees Hope To Run And Hide From Orioles This Week In The Bronx
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- The Yankees aren't going to win the AL East this week, but they sure can send a message to all potential challengers.
The Bombers will be out to put more distance between themselves and the second-place Orioles when the teams meet in the opener of their three-game series on Tuesday night in the Bronx.
Despite being a season-high nine games above .500, the Yankees (50-41) were maddeningly inconsistent over the season's first half, as was most of the division. However, by taking two of three in each of their last four series -- against Tampa Bay, Oakland, Boston and Seattle -- they have built a four-game lead over the Orioles, the team picked by many during spring training to win the division.
Peter Gammons
Following back-to-back years impacted heavily by injuries, Mark Teixeira is enjoying a renaissance season. Despite batting just .249 overall, the 2015 All-Star has improved his average every month. His run production has been tremendous as his 23 home runs and 63 RBIs are fourth and tied for second, respectively, in the AL.
The 35-year-old first baseman is hitting .265 in July, and is coming off a solid series against Seattle in which he hit .500 (5-for-10), including belting the game-winning homer in the eighth inning of Sunday's 2-1 victory.
"Individual success means a whole lot more when your team is playing well," Teixeira said after the game.
Considered a project coming into the season following his trade from Miami, Nathan Eovaldi (9-2, 4.50 ERA) will be in search of the team lead in wins when he takes the ball Tuesday night. The hard-throwing 25-year-old right-hander has been the beneficiary of excellent run support, but he's held up his end of the bargain over his last five starts, going 4-1 with a 2.93 ERA.
Eovaldi will be opposed by Wei-Yin Chen, who has the lowest ERA among the Orioles' starters (2.78) and has not allowed more than two earned runs in any start since May 30.
"Wei-Yin's been solid for us," manager Buck Showalter told MLB's official website. "After having him for a while, we've got a pretty good idea what works for him and what doesn't."
Chen will need to be good because the Orioles (46-45) have lost 11 of their last 16. Baltimore, however, did show signs of life in its last series, taking two of three from the Tigers in Detroit.
Tied for sixth in the AL in runs scored, the Orioles have been led on offense by All-Star Manny Machado. The veteran third baseman has played in every game and is hitting .300 with 20 homers and 50 RBIs, after missing 80 games last season due to a right knee injury.
The Yankees and Orioles have split 10 meetings so far this season.
