New York @ Baltimore preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 29, 2013 ) NY Yankees 3, Baltimore 11

The New York Yankees are on the verge of finishing last in the majors in runs scored for the month of June and have shown no sign they are about to break out of the collective slump. The Yankees will be looking to avoid a three-game sweep when they visit the Baltimore Orioles again on Sunday. The Orioles have won three straight to move into second place in the American League East.

New York has been forced to use several different lineups due to injury and trotted out one that featured Vernon Wells batting cleanup in Saturday’s 11-3 loss. Wells is batting .137 in June and, like many others who carried the offense in the beginning of the season, has declined steadily since a hot start. Baltimore has no such problems offensively and got home runs Nos. 29 and 30 from Chris Davis in Saturday’s game.

TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, ESPN

PITCHING MATCHUP: Yankees RH Hiroki Kuroda (7-5, 2.77 ERA) vs. Orioles RH Chris Tillman (9-2, 3.72)

Kuroda has posted three straight quality starts but has earned only one win in that span due to some poor support. The veteran right-hander allowed three runs - two earned - on five hits in 6 2/3 innings against Texas on Tuesday but did not factor in the decision. Kuroda lasted only two innings at Baltimore on May 22, getting knocked around for five runs on eight hits to absorb a loss.

Tillman has earned the win in five straight starts and has posted a 2.61 ERA in that span. The 25-year-old has battled some control problems with 11 walks in his last three turns but has limited the damage by keeping the ball in the ballpark. Tillman has not faced New York this season but has struggled against the division rivals in his career, posting a 2-3 record with an 8.16 ERA in seven games.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Orioles are expected to activate 2B Brian Roberts (hamstring) from the DL on Sunday. Roberts has played only three games this season and 118 since the beginning of the 2010 campaign.

2. New York 2B Robinson Cano has recorded multiple hits in back-to-back games for the first time this month

3. Davis is 4-for-12 with a home run and four RBIs in his career against Kuroda.

PREDICTION: Orioles 5, Yankees 3