Orioles and Yankees lineups to begin final series before break

The Orioles hold a two-game advantage over the Yankees in the American League East and they begin a weekend series tonight that leads into the break. They haven’t lost a division series in the last 22.

They haven't scored in the last 24 innings.

Heston Kjerstad is in left field and Cedric Mullins is in center. Colton Cowser is on the bench again.

Jordan Westburg is at second base. Ryan O'Hearn is the designated hitter.

Ryan Mountcastle is batting seventh.

Rookie Cade Povich will try to rebound from his worst major league start, when he allowed eight runs in Oakland and didn’t record an out in the second inning. His line included five hits, three walks and two home runs, and his ERA soared to 6.51 in six outings.

Povich faced the Yankees in the Bronx and allowed one run and one hit in 4 2/3 innings. He walked five batters.

Gunnar Henderson leads the majors in runs scored with 77 and ranks third in slugging percentage at .588. Only three shortstops have finished in the top three in both categories, per STATS: Robin Yount (first slugging, second runs) in 1982, Ernie Banks (second slugging, third runs) in 1958, and Honus Wagner (second slugging, tied third runs) in 1904.

Adley Rutschman needs one hit to join a select group of American League catchers with 100 at the break, per STATS: Joe Mauer in 2006 and 2013, Iván Rodríguez in 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000 and 2004, Javy López (with the Orioles) in 2004 and Thurman Munson in 1975, 1977 and 1979.

Henderson has 105 hits. The Orioles haven’t had two players with 100 or more hits by the break since 2018 with Manny Machado (115) and Adam Jones (104).

Rutschman is batting .348 against the Yankees in his career, the highest average by any catcher against the opponent all-time in a minimum 100 at-bats, per STATS.

The Orioles are 19-7 in the division this season.

Gerrit Cole was the opposing pitcher against Povich, making his first start in 2024, and he allowed two runs and three hits in four innings. He walked one batter and struck out five.

Cole has surrendered 13 runs and 20 hits in 17 1/3 innings in four starts. He’s registered a 2.64 ERA and 0.943 WHIP in 13 career starts against the Orioles.

Ramón Urías is 6-for-14 with two doubles and a home run against Cole, and he's at third base tonight. Mullins is 9-for-27 with a double and home run. Austin Hays is 5-for-17 with three doubles. James McCann is 5-for-13 with three doubles and a homer.

Anthony Santander is 3-for-24, Mountcastle is 5-for-24 and O’Hearn is 2-for-14 with a double and home run.

The Yankees are 5-13 since the Orioles left the Bronx. Baltimore is 8-11, including the Cubs’ three-game sweep.

The Orioles won three of four against the Yankees at Camden Yards and two of three in New York. They’ve won or tied the last five series but haven’t swept since 2015.

Per STATS, the 45 consecutive series without a sweep is the longest against a divisional opponent in Orioles history, surpassing a 44-series streak against the Blue Jays from 1983-1993.

For the Orioles

Gunnar Henderson SS
Adley Rutschman C
Anthony Santander RF
Ryan O'Hearn DH
Jordan Westburg 2B
Heston Kjerstad LF
Ryan Mountcastle 1B
Cedric Mullins CF
Ramón Urías 3B

Cade Povich LHP

For the Yankees

DJ LeMahieu 3B
Juan Soto RF
Aaron Judge CF
Ben Rice 1B
Gleyber Torres 2B
Alex Verdugo LF
Anthony Volpe SS
Jose Trevino C
Jahmai Jones DH

Gerrit Cole RHP