There isn't a head-to-head series in MLB history more lopsided than the New York Yankees (4-2) facing the Baltimore Orioles (3-3), as New York's run differential all-time against Baltimore is +2,121. However, each new season presents a new opportunity, and for the Orioles, getting the first punch on the 2022 AL East champions is right in front of them. They won the first meeting last year, although the Yankees won the season series 12-7, so there's recent precedent for it. Both teams will wait a day later than originally planned, but Friday at 3:05 p.m. EST, Oriole Park Camden Yards will host its first game of the 2023 regular season.
Opening their season with the San Francisco Giants and taking on the reigning NL champion Philadelphia Phillies second, New York took two of three from both clubs. Behind two Gleyber Torres RBI singles, a Jose Trevino home run, and another stellar start from Gerrit Cole, the Yankees left Yankee Stadium with a 4-2 record.
It was Gleyber Day in the BX ??
Presented by @Delta pic.twitter.com/Nvd4x1RKpv
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) April 5, 2023
They'll play their first road game with Clarke Schmidt as the starting pitcher. Schmidt's first start saw him give up two home runs in 3.1 innings, coughing up five runs in a Yankees loss. He has made five appearances in his career against the Orioles and owns a 2.08 ERA. Last season, he made four of those appearances, all out of the bullpen, and didn't surrender a single earned run. 2022 was his first full big league season, and he posted a 124 ERA+ and 1.197 WHIP in 29 games.
He'll be backed up by an offense that's launched 11 homers already after leading the league with 254 last year. The Yankees quietly finished eight in stolen bases in 2022 and are back at it this season. Led by Gleyber Torres and Anthony Volpe, New York has swiped nine bags through six games. Coupled with a top-10 slugging percentage, their offense may be more dangerous than ever.
The Yankees bullpen was fifth in WAR and third in ERA in 2022, and they haven't missed a beat in 2023. It's still early, but they're fifth in both categories heading into this series. New York's pitching staff is first in K/9 and second in BB/9 right now. For a team that was third in ERA last season, and appears to have another elite squad defensively, pitching may carry them deep into the postseason again.
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