Orioles lineup vs. Yankees at Camden Yards (plus notes)

The Orioles are back home and in the division, beginning a three-game series tonight against the Yankees.

This is the first time in Orioles’ history that they’ve been in first place in July or later while facing a last-place Yankees team.

Gunnar Henderson has returned to the lineup tonight, leading off and playing shortstop. He missed Wednesday’s game with lower-back discomfort.

Colton Cowser is in center field. Ryan Mountcastle is the designated hitter. Ryan O’Hearn stays in the cleanup spot.

The Orioles’ last eight games have been decided by three runs or fewer, their longest streak of the season. It’s also the longest active streak in the majors, per STATS. The Brewers, Mariners and Phillies are next with six.

The Orioles are 42-23 (.646) in games decided by three runs or fewer, second-best behind the Giants’ 39-21 (.650).

Also, the Orioles were charged with four errors in their 10-3 loss to the Dodgers on July 18 but none in the next eight games. Their 40 errors are the fewest in the American League and rank second in the majors behind Arizona’s 37.

Grayson Rodriguez is making his 13^th start, and his third since the Orioles recalled him. He’s allowed six runs in 10 2/3 innings this month.

Rodriguez carried a shutout in the sixth inning at Tropicana Field before allowing two runs in 5 2/3. He struck out six batters.

Rodriguez has made three starts against division opponents and gone at least five innings while allowing two earned runs or fewer in each game.

On the flip side, Rodriguez has registered a 9.11 ERA in his six starts at Camden Yards, the second-highest by an Orioles pitcher in his first six home starts to begin a career behind Mike Oquist’s 9.95 ERA in 1994, according to STATS.

The Orioles lost two of three games to the Yankees in April at Camden Yards. They won two of three in May in the Bronx and split a four-game series earlier this month in the Bronx.

They had 14 runs and 20 hits in the final game, only the fourth time that they’ve reached those totals against New York and the first since 2014. They also did it in 1986 and 1962.

The Orioles hadn’t beaten the Yankees by 13 runs since a 16-3 victory on June 5, 1989.

Cy Young Award candidate Gerrit Cole is 9-2 with a 2.78 ERA and 1.082 WHIP in 21 starts. He’s struck out 144 batters in 129 1/3 innings.

Eight of Cole’s last nine outings have been quality starts. He’s walked two batters and struck out 21 in the last two.

Cole faced the Orioles on May 23 at Yankee Stadium and allowed five runs in five innings. He struck out a season-low two batters.

Henderson and Cedric Mullins homered off Cole. Mullins is on the injured list.

Cole owns a career 2.80 ERA and 0.991 WHIP in 11 starts against the Orioles. Ramón Urías is 5-for-11 with two doubles and a home run. Adam Frazier is 5-for-11 with a double. Austin Hays is 5-for-15 with three doubles. James McCann is 5-for-13 with three doubles and a home run.

The Yankees are in last place with a 54-48 record and have played sub-.500 ball with Aaron Judge on the injured list. Their .230 average this season is the second-lowest in baseball.

They’re 14-1 when Judge homers, and he came off the injured list this afternoon.

Gleyber Torres has the highest batting average among qualified players at .264. The last time that the Yankees didn’t have at least one player hit .270 or higher in a season was 1968.

Torres brings a 15-game hitting streak into tonight, which began in the 14-1 loss to the Orioles.

New York is 22-24 on the road.

For the Orioles
Gunnar Henderson SS
Adley Rutschman C
Anthony Santander RF
Ryan O’Hearn 1B
Ryan Mountcastle DH
Adam Frazier 2B
Austin Hays LF
Colton Cowser CF
Ramón Urías 3B

Grayson Rodriguez RHP