If you happen to haven’t been paying a lot consideration to non-Orioles baseball to this point this 12 months, I remorse to tell you that the 2026 New York Yankees are workforce. Their 20 wins are probably the most within the American League. They’ve scored 153 runs, second-most within the AL. They’ve allowed 106, which is the fewest. And whereas the Orioles spent yesterday enjoying a doubleheader, the Yankees had an off day.
It may very well be a protracted four-game sequence. And, actually, the Orioles play the Yankees in seven of the subsequent 13 video games.
On offense, the Yankees are being led, as anticipated, by Aaron Choose. In his eleventh season, Choose leads the league with 12 house runs and has an OPS of 1.002. Extra stunning is first baseman Ben Rice, who has 10 house runs and an excellent increased OPS than Choose. In Rice’s case, one thing tells me {that a} .373 BABIP and a17.2% stroll price are most likely not sustainable. Arguably, they’re the very best offense within the AL.
The beginning pitching on the Yankees has been insanely good this 12 months. It has been the very best in baseball. The Orioles will face their high 4 starters on this sequence. Two of them are lefties. Three of them have Okay/9 over 10. They simply known as up one in all their high prospects, Elmer Rodríguez, to spherical out the rotation.
The reduction pitching hasn’t been nearly as good because the starters, however they’ve nonetheless been good with an opposing OPS of .710. Nearer David Bednar leads the league with 9 saves, however his ERA of three.55 and WHIP of 1.658 are somewhat ugly.
Be aware: As of Thursday evening, the Orioles haven’t introduced any starters for this sequence. Chris Bassitt and Brandon Younger pitched yesterday, so they’re out. With Trevor Rogers and Dean Kremer on the IL, it’s unclear how issues will shake out.
Kyle Bradish may pitch on common relaxation tonight and Shane Baz may pitch on common relaxation on Sunday. Down within the minors, Cade Povich final pitched on April twenty fifth. It stands to motive he’ll be known as up for this sequence to pitch at the moment or tomorrow. As for Monday? Perhaps Albert Suárez, in the event that they add him again to the 40-man.
TBD vs RHP Will Warren (3-0, 2.59 ERA, 37 SO)
After pitching to a 4.44 ERA over 33 begins final 12 months and getting a number of Rookie of the Yr votes, Warren is off to an awesome begin in 2026. After failing to pitch deep into the sport in his first 4 begins, Warren has gone seven and 6 innings in his final two.
To date this 12 months, Warren has good numbers throughout the board with a 28.7% strikeout price and only a 5.4% stroll price. When he isn’t putting guys out, he’s getting groundouts 48.8% of the time. He’s been doing this regardless of a mean fastball velocity of 93.9 mph.
Final 12 months, Warren confronted the Orioles 4 occasions, and so they did fairly effectively towards him. In 20 innings, he gave up 11 runs (4.95 ERA) and the Orioles hit .272/.333/.506. However that was 4.44 ERA Warren, not 2.59 ERA Warren. In restricted plate appearances, Gunnar Henderson (3-for-7, 4 BB) and Colton Cowser (3-for-7) have fared effectively towards Warren.
TBD vs LHP Ryan Weathers 1-2, 3.21 ERA, 40 SO
Lefty alert! The Yankees traded for Weathers in January, with the 26-year-old pitcher coming to the American League for the primary time in his profession. After a tricky begin with the Padres, Weathers seemed good for the Marlins over the past two seasons earlier than the commerce. That has continued for six begins this 12 months with the Yankees.
Weathers is a giant strikeout man with a Okay price of just below 30% to this point this 12 months, however has struggled with the homer. He’s given up 5 lengthy balls in six begins, however none in his final look towards the Astros.
Weathers has by no means confronted the Orioles, and no present Orioles have a lot expertise towards him.
TBD vs LHP Max Fried (4-1, 2.09 ERA, 37 SO)
Oh nice. Max Fried. Again-to-back lefties!
Think about a world the place the Orioles had signed Max Fried earlier than the 2025 season as a substitute of the Yankees? I can’t both, however it will have been cool. Fried has been precisely what the Yankees anticipated after signing the ace to an eight-year contract.
Fried’s 47.1 innings pitched over seven begins is tops within the league at this level. He hasn’t been putting as many guys out to this point, however is maintaining guys off base with simply 4.9 hits per 9 innings and a WHIP of simply 0.803.
Final 12 months, Fried confronted the Orioles twice. In June, Fried had the outdated High quality Begin with three runs in six inning. In September, Fried struck out 13 Orioles in 7 shutout innings.
From their time collectively within the NL East, Pete Alonso has confronted Fried 48 occasions with a hitting line of .238/.333/.405 with two house runs.
TBD vs RHP Cam Schlittler (4-1, 1.51 ERA, 49 SO)
Are these guys kidding me with these tiny ERAs? Come on!
The Yankees drafted Schlittler within the seventh spherical of the 2022 draft. He debuted final 12 months with a 2.96 ERA in 14 begins and has been even higher this 12 months. He has that tiny 1.51 ERA and leads the league in FIP (1.51), WHIP (0.744), and Okay/BB (8.17). In case you’re questioning, the Orioles drafted Preston Johnson within the seventh spherical of the 2022 draft. He’s at the moment on the roster of the Mississippi Mud Monsters of the Frontier League.
Schlittler’s Statcast web page is a sea of crimson. His fastball averages over 97 mph and he has a curve ball that drops in at simply 84. He strikes out over 30% of batters and hardly permits house runs.
Final 12 months, Schlittler confronted the Orioles twice. In 12.1 innings, he allowed only one run on 5 hits and struck out 15.
How do you assume the Orioles will do that sequence? Tell us within the feedback.