Opposite dugout: Yankees using youth to excel atop AL East

Manager: Joe Girardi (10th season)

Record: 34-23

Last 10 games: 5-5

Who to watch: RF Aaron Judge (.330 with 18 HR, 41 RBIs); 2B Starlin Castro (.319 with 31 RBIs, 74 hits); LF Brett Gardner (.262 with 12 HR, 27 RBIs); RHP Luis Severino (4-2, 2.90 ERA); RHP Dellin Betances (3-1, 0.49 ERA).

Season series vs. Orioles: 4-5

Pitching probables:

June 9: RHP Dylan Bundy vs. LHP Jordan Montgomery; 7:35 p.m., MASN
June 10: RHP Chris Tillman vs. RHP Luis Severino; 7:15 p.m., FOX
June 11: RHP Kevin Gausman vs. RHP Masahiro Tanaka; 1:05 p.m., MASN

Inside the Yankees:

Orioles fans might still be trying to forget their team's last trip to Yankee Stadium, particularly the series opener in which the Yankees came back from an eight-run deficit to earn an extra-inning walk-off victory. It was a sour moment for those in Charm City, and one that put the rest of the American League East on notice: These Bronx Bombers might just be the team to beat in the division.

Entering Thursday, the Yankees boast the second-best offense in the American League, thanks to a balanced attack led by a youthful trio. Right fielder Aaron Judge would be a shoe-in for AL Rookie of the Year if voting ended today, as the 25-year-old leads the majors with 18 home runs and sports a .330 average. Meanwhile, Starlin Castro is enjoying his best season, tallying a team-leading 74 hits while hitting .319, only a few points behind fellow infielder Didi Gregorius' .324 mark. Add in catcher Gary Sánchez's power and you've got one a lineup capable of putting up double digit runs on any given night.

Jordan Montgomery is still looking for his first win against the Orioles this season. He's 0-1 in two starts against the Birds, but may be on his way to securing that elusive victory if his recent numbers are any indication. Montgomery, who starts Friday, has allowed just two earned runs in his last three starts and is coming off his first shutout of the season. One guy who has had success against the Orioles this year is right-hander Luis Severino. Severino, Saturday's scheduled hurler, pitched a gem in Baltimore on May 30, allowing one earned run over 6 1/3 innings while racking up eight strikeouts. In fact, since watching his ERA balloon to 3.86 on May 1, Severino has lowered it by almost a full run and hasn't lost a decision since. Masahiro Tanaka has been plagued by inconsistency and has lost five straight starts entering Sunday's finale. He was phenomenal against the Athletics back on May 26, tallying a season-high 13 strikeouts while allowing just one run. But that start was simply a smooth spot on an otherwise bumpy stretch, as Tanaka has given up at least five runs in four of his last five outings.

Closer Aroldis Chapman remains on the disabled list, so Dellin Betances has filled in for the time being. Betances has five saves on the season and has allowed only one earned run all year - a lone blemish back on April 8 during his only blown save appearance against - who else? - the Orioles. With Betances in the closer's role, the rest of the bullpen is manned by relievers Tyler Clippard, Jonathan Holder and Adam Warren.