Game of the Week: May 29: NYY @ BAL

[Commissioner Erick]

New York Yankees (28-20) @ Baltimore Orioles (22-27)


NYY: Masahiro Tanaka (4-5, 3.97)
BAL: Kevin Gausman (4-5, 5.15)


Despite getting throttled opening day, the New York Yankees have rebounded and currently lead the American League East. While the team has some strong power hitters, the Yankees have been succeeding with speed, pitching, and a great back of the bullpen.

While Dee Gordon's on-base percentage hasn't been great, he is hitting over .300 with a league leading 20 stolen bases at the top of the Yankees' lineup. Youngster Ronald Torreyes has moved up to the two-spot after hitting lower in the order to start the year. While he's tailed off a bit hitting second, he has an .892 OPS thanks to a .307 average, eight doubles, three triples, and three home runs.

Those two hitters have done some damage at the top of the order, allowing Gary Sanchez to emerge as an offensive star. Sanchez has 12 home runs and 36 RBI's, a top-ten number for runs batted in.

However, there are questions regarding depth with the Yankees. Greg Bird has about 100 at bats now, but he's only hitting for a .444 OPS. Jacoby Elsbury has turned things around recently, but he only has a .303 OBP. With guys like Torreyes and Tyler Austin perhaps overachieving, It will be up to Bird and Elsbury to rebound and provide more consistent offense.

The Yankees have dealt with Julio Teheran and C.C. Sabbathia being on the disabled list by trading for James Shields and promoting Chad Green. Both Shields and Green have looked good as members of the rotation, but they'll need their stalwart, Masahiro Tanaka, to pitch like an ace to make up for the losses.

Fortunately, after a shaky April, Tanaka has really come along in May. He's worked 8 innings each of his last three starts, allowing two runs to the Astros, before a two-run start and a three-run start against the Royals. If he can reliably perform like that, the Yankees will be in good shape.

Tanaka doesn't even need to go 8 innings since the Yankees bullpen is excellent. Three Yankees are in the top five of AL Bullpen WAR. Dellin Betances is second in the AL in saves with 14 of them. He features a sparkling 1.05 ERA as well, and has been nasty in the ninth. Aroldis Chapman leads in bullpen WAR. He has a 1.64 ERA and an eye-bulging 17.6 strikeouts per nine. He has 43 strikeouts in 22 innings. Jonathan Holder is the youngster of the group. While he doesn't have the pedigree of Betances or Chapman, he's worked to a 4-0 record and a 1.98 ERA himself.

Plus, Tyler Clippard, who went down with a rotator cuff injury in April, may be back for this game. The Yankees may give him a rehab assignment, but Clippard says he's ready to go. He didn't allow an earned run in 4.2 innings to start the season.

They'll take on a Baltimore Orioles team that is big on power, and light on speed and pitching. Baltimore is second in home runs and last in steals in the American League. Despite being decent with getting on base and batting average, they're only ninth in runs. They aren't awful with runners in scoring position either, so it doesn't make much sense.

Manny Machado leads the AL in RBI's by a mile, he's second in home runs, and third in average. He's been a superstar in every way, and the Game of the Week loves to showcase American League offensive superstars. Machado has also benefitted hitting behind Hyun-soo Kim. Kim is off to a blistering start with a .328 average, .376 on-base percentage, and 16 doubles, which is good for third in the league. Kim's .328 average slots in as the fourth best in the AL.

The Orioles have the basic tenement of a good offense. Have Kim get on base so Adam Jones and Manny Machado can do some damage, then hope the lower spots in the order can sock some dingers. They got nothing out of their shortstop spot though.

J.J. Hardy was trying to play through a sore back and put up a .474 OPS. He was awful and then his back got so bad he had to be put on the disabled list. Paul Janish and Ryan Flaherty are typical backup-types who can play there, and there's also the slight chance that Machado moves to short.

The Orioles will be starting Kevin Gausman, who is both disappointing this year, but also the only Orioles starter who has performed well against the Yankees. He's had a dearth of quality starts, but easily his best outing of the year was April 30. He went 8 innings, allowed only three runs on five hits. While his peripherals aren't great, he is 2-0 against the Yankees. on a team that is 2-4 against them so far.


Questions for the GM's:


For Greg Masceri, you came into a weird situation, taking on a team that had some moves made. While one trade isn't working out this year due to injury, what do you think of your predecessor's job in trading for Gordon, Teheran, and Ben Revere, while trading away Brett Gardner and Starlin Castro, and retaining a bunch of salary in 2018 and 2019?

After a rough stretch, your team really responded to you and fired off seven straight wins. How will you manage this team?

Greg Bird is really struggling. What are your plans if he can't get it totgether?

For Jeff Jennings, we've seen other candidates for the best AL hitter come on the Game of the Week and shine, whether it be Jose Altuve or Giancarlo Stanton, or even Paul Goldschmidt. Do you expect any nerves from Machado appearing in prime time?

Your offense appears to be getting guys on effectively, and will hit the ball over the fence. What isn't clicking for your guys?

You have the second worst zone rating in the AL. Will you make any moves to shore up your defense? Part of that, is that a reason why you won't play Machado at short?

[jjorioles]

We decided to keep the team intact this season instead of going to the trade market (look familiar?). So, with good power and decent hitting, the thought was to score more runs than the weak starting pitching staff can give up. The team hits (.271 average) and has power, but once there are runners in scoring position, the average falls to .239; also with a runner on 2nd and 2 outs, the hitting falls to .181. There seems to be little clutch hitting. The pitching is not good, .344 OBP is 2nd worst in league, 2nd most BB given up and starters have a 4.71 ERA. With Hardy and his low offensive output going on the DL, the O's took a chance by picking up 2B Brandon Phillips to hopefully had some movement to the lineup. With the SS position, the decision was to keep Manny at 3rd and move Schoop to short, his glove is suspect but he has OK range and a great arm. But it will come down to starting pitching and this team is short on consistent SPs. On a future note, it is rumored that the O's are working out a long-term deal with Machado, if that goes through, look for major changes in the offseason.

[gmyankees]

YANKS Outlook

Stepping into a situation where some moves had been made forced me to play the hand dealt. Not happy but had to retain salary for Castro trade and making matters worse losing Teheran to injury having obtained via the trade. I like Gordon but I'm not sure that Revere adds much over Gardner who's a personal fav of mine. We had a rough stretch but things seem to be coming together for us as we feel poised to make a run for the division crown. I've been asked about Greg Bird and while he may drop in our lineup he's probably going to remain our first bagger, we're staying committed to him. If we can keep it together I like our chances because anything can happen in the playoffs.

[Commissioner Erick]

Good stuff guys! Good luck today!

[Commissioner Erick]

Yankees 5 - Orioles 3


WP: M. Tanaka (5-5)
LP: K. Gausman (4-6)


The New York Yankees came into their game against the Baltimore Orioles on a roll, winning seven straight. Masahiro Tanaka's fourth straight solid outing made sure it would be eight straight.

Tanaka pitched 8 innings of three-run ball, the Yankees took advantage of shaky Baltimore defense, and New York beat Baltimore 5-3.

The Orioles decided to play Jonathan Schoop at shortstop with JJ Hardy hurt, and their other options unappealing. The Yankees hit four balls in his vicinity and three went for hits. This doesn't factor in a fifth ball that hit a runner in play. The Yankees also had two other hits on balls that never reached the outfield, plus had a runner get on base after newly acquired Brandon Philips committed an error.

Long story short, it wasn't the best day for the Orioles infield defense. Daniel Robertson ripped a double past Manny Machado in the second before Austin Romine grounded a single past Schoop for the first run of the game.

After Brandon Phillips doubled, Adam Jones singled in the third to knot the game at one. Chris Carter homered in the fourth to give the Yankees a 2-1 lead, before Baltimore's defense contributed to the Yankees getting another run in the sixth.

Matt Holliday walked with one out, before Didi Gregorious chopped a ball off the plate. Gausman broke for the ball instead of first base, leaving Chris Davis with nobody to throw to. Austine Romine walked to load the bases with two outs, before Ben Revere nubbed a ball to the right side. Davis fielded it in the hole, but Revere beat Gausman to the bag leading to a Yankees run that came on two walks and two infield singles.

The Yankees got a big go ahead run in the eighth after two walks against Mychal Givens put two on with two out. Pinch hitting Greg Bird, who was ice cold, boomed a double to center field to bring in an insurance run, making the score 4-1. That insurance run was big as Jones came up in the bottom of the eighth and demolished a hanging splitter over the wall in left to cut the lead to 4-3.

Elsbury homered off Givens in the eighth, ending an awful performance where Givens allowed two runs on three hits and two walks in 1.1 innings. Brad Brach gave up a hit and a walk before making it through the eighth.

Dellin Betances did not have the trouble Baltimore's bullpen had. He did walk Mark Trumbo with one out, but got a weak fly out from Seth Smith and a soft ground ball from Wellington Castillo to close out his 15th save of the year. The clean inning lowered his ERA to a sparkling 1.01 on the year.

Kevin Gausman continued to pitch well against the Yankees. Of the seven hits he allowed, many were ground balls. He did allow three walks, and his poor defense contributed somewhat to a Yankee run, but he also worked a quality start. His only two outings of at least 7 innings and three runs or fewer have come against the Yankees.


Questions for the GM's:


For Greg Masceri, you criticized Ben Revere. I criticized Greg Bird. Most people would disagree with the decision to start Austine Romine at first base. All three of those players contributed. Talk about how they helped provide you a win.

Didi Gregorious started at third base and had three hits, raising his average to .299. While he does have six home runs, many believe the average and power are a touch unsustainable. What is your opinion of Gregorious thus far.

Betances has been spectacular for you, but Aroldis Chapman has been equally sensational. Why Betances over Chapman for the closer spot?

For Jeff Jennings, you tried Jonathan Schoop at short and Brandon Phillips at second and the combination was rough. You mentioned outhitting the pitching, but at this point, do you also hope your team can outhit the defense?

Kevin Gausman pitched reasonably well against the Yankees, a trend that has not extended to the other teams in the league. Is there any reason he performs well against them?

You mentioned walks in the pregame, and they must be killing you. Two of Gausman's walks directly led to a walk, and Givens was a disaster. Do you do anything with your bullpen if pitchers like Givens continue to be unreliable?

[gmyankees]

Not to be overally critical of Revere, I just would have kept Gardner. As far as Bird goes I just think he's going to come around if he doesn't I will have to make a move there. As far as the Closer spot it's kind of up in the air, depending on who's ready to go I like both Bettances and Chapman.

[jjorioles]

Schoop was a fill in. I have Aybar at AAA (a little better fielder at ss, waiting for waivers to clear and bring up Aybar. Most like l will play Janish there this week. Hope Aybar can suffice until Hardy returns, but we will look for a long-term solution there for next season. Will look to get Phillips some playing time.

Maybe he's like all of the Baltimore fans and hates the Yankees.

I have moved Givens down to middle relief and moved O'Day into early setup. We'll see how that works. Givens has been bad of late. Needs a little time to reflect.

Yankees are always tough, needed to take 2 at home.