Pineda Returns As Yanks Visits O’s

Michael Pineda is set to make his first start for the Yankees since April 23.

Looking to salvage a series tie, the New York Yankees will send Michael Pineda to the mound Wednesday as the side looks to get the better of the Baltimore Orioles on the road.

First pitch at Orioles Park at Camden Yards is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. ET.

New York (61-57, 32-28 road) finds itself seven games back of the division-leading Orioles, a number that will make any final push for the postseason tough.

Joe Girardi’s club isn’t about to call it quits though, and will unveil a new weapon when they meet the Orioles for the series finale in a three-game set cut short by Tuesday’s washout. Well, a nearly new weapon.

Having been on the disabled list since May 6, Pineda will return to action as the Yankees look to shave one-game off the O’s lead.

Pineda has appeared in just four games this season, and will be pitching for the first time since April 23 – the game in which he was ejected and subsequently suspended 10 games in the now infamous pine tar incident.

The 25-year-old will look to put that incident, not to mention his injuries, in the past.

Baltimore (68-58, 33-26 home) earned a victory in Monday’s series opener and continues to look like the cream of the AL East crop. With seven wins in the last nine, Buck Showalter’s club is looking to pad its lead on Wednesday.

The Orioles currently sport the third best record in baseball, behind only the Oakland Athletics (73-46) and Los Angeles Angels (69-49). While the club has a comfortable lead in both the division race and the race for a wild card berth, the more wins the team can pick up now, the more it can rest down the homeward stretch.

Pitching Matchup

Michael Pineda (2-2, 1.83 ERA) pitched well in his brief stint at the beginning of the year, his first games in a Yankee uniform. The Yankees – without CC Sabathia and Ivan Nova for the rest of the year, and currently without Masahiro Tanaka – will hope he can return to full form quickly, and keep that ERA low.

• Pineda is 0-0 with a 2.77 ERA in 2 career games (2 starts) vs. the Baltimore Orioles
• Pineda is 0-0 with a 4.50 ERA in 1 career game (1 start) at Camden Yards
• Pineda will face the Orioles for the first time this season on Wednesday
• Pineda will make his first appearance at Camden Yards of the season on Wednesday.

The Orioles will counter with Chris Tillman (9-5, 3.73 ERA).

Tillman has won two straight after going through a six game stretch that saw the right-hander go 0-1. He hasn’t fared well against the Yankees in the past, but will be looking to change that on Wednesday.

• Tillman is 5-5 with a 5.64 ERA in 12 career games (12 starts) vs. the New York Yankees
• Tillman is 19-15 with a 3.92 ERA in 53 career games (53 starts) at Camden Yards
• Tillman is 1-1 with a 1.98 ERA in 2 games (2 starts) vs. the New York Yankees this season
• Tillman is 3-5 with a 2.77 ERA in 12 games(12 starts) at Camden Yards this season

Injury Report

The Yankees are without catcher Brian McCann, currently on the 7-day concussion DL. First baseman Mark Teixeira has returned to the lineup following a day-to-day stint with a finger complaint.

Baltimore will likely be without third baseman Manny Machado, currently day-to-day with knee injury. Some are suggesting the 22-year-old could be heading for the DL soon. Shortstop J.J. Hardy is also listed as day-to-day with a hand complaint.

Manny Machado is likely to miss Wednesday’s game and could be headed to the DL.

New York Yankees at Baltimore Orioles odds for 08/13/2014

Baltimore (-138) opened as the favorite over New York (+128) on the moneyline.

The Orioles are 7-3 against the Yankees this season, including wins in the last two and five of the last six. The Yankees have won just one of four games at Camden Yards this season.

Some other trends to consider:

• New York is 38-41- in night games
• Baltimore is 51-28 in night games
• New York is 21-24 vs. AL East opponents
• Baltimore is 29-19 vs. AL East opponents
• New York is 49-35 vs. right-handed pitching
• Baltimore is 46-40 vs. right-handed pitching
• New York is 6-5 since August 1
• Baltimore is 8-3 since August 1
• New York is 14-10 since the All-Star break
• Baltimore is 16-8 since the All-Star break

The total opened at 8 1/2 but has subsequently dropped to 8.

The total has gone under in five of the last seven head-to-head matches, including three of the four the sides have played in Baltimore.

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After Wednesday’s series closer, the Yankees will head south to face another division rival. The club will play three against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field this weekend (Fri-Sun).

The Orioles meanwhile will kick off a nine-game road trip with three games against the Cleveland Indians this weekend (Fri-Sun).

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