The New York Yankees are currently sitting in first place in their division and are looking to remain that way. In the past few years, the Baltimore Orioles have been standing in their way as the Yankees have not swept them in a series in five years. However, they could end that streak on Thursday as New York looks to breakout the brooms against the defending American League East champions who have struggled as of late.
New York is on a roll since the All-Star break. The team is 4-1 while aiming to get a sweep against Baltimore. They are now the ones sitting in first place and a sweep against the Orioles would keep the momentum pushing forward. Masahiro Tanaka will take the mound in the final game of the series as Baltimore sits seven games back. He is 6-3 with a 3.65 ERA on the season while the Yankees have gotten four-straight wins with the pitcher. He is fresh off a start where he gave up just three runs in seven innings. Tanaka has only seen Baltimore twice in his career going 0-1 with a 3.86 ERA.
The Yankees will face a Baltimore team struggling at the moment. The team has dropped 11 of their last 15 while still being 46-47 overall. It is unclear if the franchise feels pressure to make moves at the trade deadline. They are certainly still capable of making a late-season run for the postseason, but it will be difficult in their current position. The Orioles will start Ubaldo Jimenez who is 7-5 with a 3.29 ERA. He struggled in his last start, giving up seven runs in just over four innings of play. The Orioles are hopeful that the pitcher can pull things together as he gets Matt Wieters back behind the plate.
Jimenez is 2-1 with a 4.43 ERA in four starts against the Yankees. Jacoby Ellsbury is 5 for 9 against the pitcher while Carlos Beltran is 7 for 18 against the pitcher. The Yankees are on a roll right now which is not the best way Jimenez to face them, but Baltimore is desperate for a win and now is the time to get it.