O's game blog: Yefry Ramirez faces his former team in nightcap

Coming off back-to-back good outings versus Seattle and Philadelphia, right-hander Yefry Ramírez (0-2, 2.51 ERA) makes his fourth big league appearance and third start in Game 2 of today's doubleheader.

Ramírez made his major league debut June 13 in a start versus Boston and allowed three runs over 4 1/3 innings. In his past two games - in relief versus Seattle and a start in Philly - he has allowed four hits and one earned run over 10 innings. In those 10 innings, he averaged 11.7 pitches per inning. The 24-year-old Ramírez has thrown 14 1/3 innings for the Orioles, allowing eight hits and five runs (four earned) with four walks, 13 strikeouts and a .163 batting average against.

Today he faces his former organization. The Orioles acquired him from the Yankees on July 31, 2017 for international bonus slots.

It's early for him in his major league career, but he's been impressive. It was after that game against the Phillies last Wednesday that manager Buck Showalter said, "Yefry has caught my eye."

Ramírez went five innings on the Fourth of July in Philadelphia and allowed just one hit and one earned run on 65 pitches. He was solid again.

"I feel awesome that I can help my team," Ramírez said after that game through interpreter Ramón Alarcón. "I'm just trying to go out there and attack the hitters and with the mindset that it's the same baseball. I think getting big league hitters out, it's really helpful to me in gaining more confidence. Feeling more confident every time I go out there. So just getting those players out just helps with experience and with my confidence."

Known as a pitcher with plus changeup, Ramírez did not have a good feel for that pitch that day versus the Phillies. Instead he threw 21 sliders, getting six swings and misses. That pitch could be big for him moving forward, he said.

"It definitely makes me a more complete pitcher," he said. "Hitters don't see me as a two-pitch pitcher right now. They need to take into account that I can throw three pitches. So I am just glad that it's working and I am going to continue to work on it, to continue to execute the plan and help my team."

Right-hander Luis Cessa (0-1, 5.00 ERA) starts Game 2 for the Yankees, making his sixth big league outing of the season. His last game with New York was a start on June 27 against Philadelphia. Over three innings, he gave up five hits and three runs. For the season, he has thrown nine innings allowing eight hits and five runs with five walks and nine strikeouts.

In his career against Baltimore, in three games and two starts, he is 1-1 with a 4.97 ERA and 0.868 WHIP. In 12 2/3 innings, he has walked one and fanned 13.