The Baltimore Orioles are eager to turn the page when they host the New York Yankees for a three-game series, hoping for a much better outcome than their last encounter. The last time these two teams met, the Orioles were on the wrong end of a brutal four-game sweep in the Bronx, with the Yankees winning each matchup by at least five runs. While Baltimore is guaranteed to avoid a repeat—simply because this series is shorter—they'll need to step up their game to compete.
The Orioles enter this series after snapping a three-game losing streak with a narrow 2-1 win on Sunday. However, the team's offensive struggles remain a concern. Baltimore has only scored more than four runs in two of their last ten games, putting immense pressure on their pitchers to keep games close. Catchers Samuel Basallo and Adley Rutschman have done their best to keep the ship afloat amid the slump, while first baseman Pete Alonso showed signs of life during his return to New York. Shortstop Gunnar Henderson has yet to find his groove at the plate, but this series against a division rival would be the perfect time for him to break out.
On the mound, right-hander Rico Garcia has emerged as a bright spot in a bullpen that has been asked to carry a heavy workload. Chris Bassitt didn't technically start on Sunday, but he turned in his best appearance of the year, which could help set the tone for a rotation that has disappointed so far this season. The return of a healthy Trevor Rogers should also provide a boost. The Orioles have officially named Brandon Young as their starter for the series opener. Young settled down after an early hiccup in his last outing against the Marlins and delivered a quality start, something Baltimore desperately needs with Cade Povich joining Dean Kremer and Zach Eflin on the injured list. Young did not face the Yankees in the previous series.
The Yankees, meanwhile, come into Baltimore looking to take out their frustration after being swept by the Milwaukee Brewers, including a 4-3 loss on Mother's Day. In their last meeting with the Orioles, New York's offense was relentless, but Baltimore managed just three runs against starter Ryan Weathers last week—only one of which was earned. Alonso tagged a solo homer in the fourth inning, but Weathers cruised to his second win of the season.
As the Orioles look to build momentum, Tuesday's starter has yet to be announced. Trevor Rogers recently told reporters he does not expect to go on a rehab assignment after hitting the 15-day injured list. For now, Baltimore will rely on their young arms and hope their bats finally wake up against a Yankees team that knows how to punish mistakes.