Yankees Visit Camden Yards With a Nine-Game Edge on Baltimore
The New York Yankees arrive at Oriole Park at Camden Yards tonight carrying a nine-game cushion over the Baltimore Orioles in the standings — and Baltimore desperately needs a statement win. First pitch is set for 6:35 PM ET, and the pitching matchup gives this one some genuine intrigue.
Will Warren is expected to take the mound for New York against a Baltimore lineup that is fighting to stay relevant at 61-65. Chris Bassitt is set to start for the Orioles, and how he handles the Yankees' power threat will go a long way toward determining whether Baltimore can make this a competitive evening. The gap between these two clubs in the standings is real, and the Orioles don't have much margin for error if they want to keep any second-half momentum alive.
The player to circle on the Yankees side is Ben Rice, who has been one of the more quietly dangerous hitters in the American League this season. Thirty-three home runs and 78 RBI at a .249 average tells you exactly what kind of hitter he is — he's not padding a batting title, he's doing damage. Bassitt will need to be careful with him, because Rice has the kind of raw power that can flip a game in a single at-bat. On the Baltimore side, Pete Alonso is the obvious focal point. His .267 average, 28 home runs, and 81 RBI make him the most credible run-producer in the Orioles lineup, and if Baltimore is going to manufacture enough offense to challenge a Yankees club playing with confidence, Alonso needs to be at the center of it.
Our model does not have a validated read on this game tonight, so we're not going to manufacture a lean where one doesn't exist. What we can say is that the matchup on paper favors New York — a team nine games better in the standings, with a legitimate power threat at the plate in Rice. Baltimore has Alonso and home-field advantage at Camden Yards, and Bassitt gives them a credible arm to work with. This one is worth watching, but go in with your eyes open about the gap between these two clubs right now.