O's game blog: Can Ynoa slow the New York offense?

As the Orioles look to get their offense going again, tonight they face the challenge of New York Yankees right-hander Luis Severino (12-6, 2.96 ERA). Severino is third in the American League in ERA, opponents batting average (.209) and WHIP (1.05) and fourth with 211 strikeouts.

He has been even better than his overall stats in the second half. The 23-year-old Severino is 7-2 with a 2.07 ERA in 11 starts since the break. That is the best ERA in the league in that time and he has given up one earned run or less in nine of those starts. AL batters are hitting .178 against him in the second half.

In three starts this season against the Orioles, Severino is 2-0 with a 2.95 ERA and 22 strikeouts in 18 1/3 innings. In his 15 home starts, he is 6-5 with a 3.83 ERA. Lefty batters hit .218 against him and right-handers bat .202 off Severino.

Right-hander Gabriel Ynoa (1-1, 4.19) will make his seventh appearance and second as a starter for the Orioles. He pitched 4 2/3 innings on Saturday at Cleveland and gave up seven hits and three runs. In four career MLB starts, Ynoa is 0-1 with a 3.94 ERA. He pitched well in the second half for Triple-A Norfolk, going 5-1 with a 2.87 ERA over nine starts.

In an interview in Toronto, Ynoa said he was excited to get another chance to start for the Orioles. He also noted that yes, it gives him a chance to audition for a possible starter role for 2018.

"Happy to help the team and looking forward to this opportunity," Ynoa said through translator Ramon Alarcon. "After I started in Cleveland, I was approached and told that a second start might be a possibility. So I started practicing and preparing for that possibility and am thankful for that.

"I think it is going to benefit my career. I'm very confident in myself and my abilities. And I think I can help the team. Hopefully, I can help them now and in the future," he said.

The Orioles (72-75) hit three homers in Thursday's 13-5 loss at Yankee Stadium. It was the most runs they have scored since Sept. 5. Over the last eight games, the Orioles have hit .204 with seven homers and 17 runs scored.

The Yankees (80-66) begin tonight leading for the first AL wild card and three games back of Boston for the AL East lead. They have won five of six and nine of 12 games. The Yankees are 41-27 at home.

They have scored 12 runs or more in five of seven games at home versus the Orioles this year, going 6-1 and outscoring Baltimore 81-35. In those seven games, O's starters have an ERA of 13.50 over 25 1/3 innings. For the year, New York is 10-6 against the Orioles, scoring 133 runs with 40 homers. The O's team ERA is 7.90.