O's game blog: Gausman against Tanaka in Game 2 of series

The Orioles are 14-7 at home against the Yankees since 2014 and have won 10 of their last 13 versus New York in their home park. The Yankees have lost nine consecutive series at Camden Yards since the start of the 2014 season. The latest O's win was last night's 6-5 comeback victory, which left the team atop the American League East at 3-0.

In taking two games against Toronto, the Orioles trailed for just a half-inning. But last night they fell behind 5-1 in the fifth. They rallied on Manny Machado's three-run homer to get within 5-4 and moved ahead for good on Seth Smith's first homer with the club. That two-run shot to right made it a 6-5 lead in the bottom of the seventh. Smith has made two starts and is 3-for-8 (.375) with two doubles, a homer, two RBIs and an OPS of 1.375.

The Orioles and Minnesota Twins (4-0) are the only remaining unbeatens in MLB. The Orioles' 2.48 team ERA ranks third in the AL.

Two opening day starters match up this afternoon at Oriole Park. Right-hander Kevin Gausman (0-0, 3.38 ERA) goes for the Orioles and right-hander Masahiro Tanaka (0-1, 23.63 ERA) for the Yankees.

Gausman has outstanding numbers against New York. In six starts last season, he went 3-1 with a 1.10 ERA. He walked six and fanned 35 in 41 innings. In 17 career games (11 starts), he has gone 6-3 with a 1.92 ERA and 1.029 WHIP. New York batters have hit .225/.261/.331 versus Gausman over those games.

He took a no decision Monday against Toronto. Over 5 1/3 innings and 103 pitches, Gausman allowed five hits and two runs with four walks and four strikeouts. Toronto went 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position.

The 28-year-old Tanaka had one of his worst career starts Sunday at Tropicana Field. Over 2 2/3 innings he gave up eight hits and seven runs, allowing homers to Evan Longoria and Logan Morrison in a loss to Tampa Bay.

It was the second shortest start of his career, behind only an outing of 1 2/3 innings on Sept. 27, 2014 at Boston. Tanaka's seven earned runs allowed was a career high. The Rays hitters went 8-for-15 (.533) against him, and lefty batters were 6-for-9 (.667).

This followed a strong 2016 season in which he went 14-4 with a 3.07 ERA, third best in the league. In his last nine starts last year he went 7-0 with a 2.28 ERA.

Tanaka has made five career starts versus Baltimore, going 1-1 with a 2.39 ERA. In 37 2/3 innings he has walked four with 40 strikeouts. In his only previous career start at Oriole Park, he pitched eight scoreless on May 5, 2016 allowing five hits with one walk and seven strikeouts.