New York @ Baltimore preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 3, 2018 ) NY Yankees 0, Baltimore 0

The Baltimore Orioles are losers of six straight and 13 of their last 14 as they get set to host the powerhouse New York Yankees in a traditional doubleheader on Monday. The Orioles own the worst record in the majors at 24-65 and are in the midst of a stretch of 14 games in 13 days heading into the All-Star break.

Baltimore averaged two runs during its just-completed six-game road trip and is reportedly fielding offers for the team's best hitter and lone All-Star, shortstop Manny Machado. Machado recorded two of the team's seven hits during Sunday's 10-1 loss at Minnesota and is batting .313 with 21 homers despite dealing with the trade rumors. The Yankees have plenty of players capable of providing instant offense in their lineup but managed to avoid a series loss on Sunday by playing small ball, with a sacrifice bunt putting a runner in scoring position ahead of Brett Gardner's RBI single in the 10th inning of a 2-1 win at Toronto. New York remains two games behind the Boston Red Sox in the American League East and will send CC Sabathia and Luis Cessa to the mound on Monday opposite righties Jimmy Yacabonis and Yefry Ramirez in a straight doubleheader beginning at 4:05 p.m.


TV: 7:35 p.m, ET, YES (New York), MASN (Baltimore)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Yankees RH Luis Cessa (0-1, 5.00 ERA) vs. Orioles RH Yefry Ramirez (0-2, 2.51)

New York is expected to recall Cessa to make a spot start in the nightcap, which will mark his first appearance in the majors since a loss at Philadelphia on June 27. The 26-year-old surrendered three runs and five hits over three innings against the Phillies in his first start among five major league appearances this season. Cessa tossed a perfect inning of relief against Baltimore in his season debut on April 7, striking out a pair.

Ramirez is making his third career major league start and fourth appearance after yielding only one hit in five innings at Philadelphia on Wednesday. The 24-year-old, who worked five scoreless innings of relief in his previous appearance on June 28, still managed to get saddled with the loss against the Phillies while being charged with two runs - one earned. Ramirez went 3-5 with a 3.88 ERA for Triple-A Norfolk this season.

WALK-OFFS

1. Yankees LH Aroldis Chapman (knee tendinitis) - named to the AL All-Star team with teammates RF Aaron Judge, RHP Luis Severino and 2B Gleyber Torres - left Saturday's game and was not used in a save situation on Sunday.

2. Baltimore RHP Alex Cobb left in the sixth inning on Sunday with an apparent injury to his throwing hand.

3. New York OF Aaron Hicks (left leg) was held out of the lineup on Sunday and is day-to-day.

PREDICTION: Orioles 5, Yankees 4