Weekend preview: Orioles at New York

Game Preview Orioles (56-83) at Yankees (91-50) Winning road games in the AL East has been a season-long problem for the Orioles. A big one at that. They are just 4-22 on the year in division road games. Starting tonight they will play three of them this weekend vs. the red-hot and almost certainly playoff-bound, New York Yankees. The O's are just 3-12 on the season vs. New York. Series Pitching Matchups: Fri, 7:05p - Chris Tillman (1-3, 4.66) vs. Andy Pettitte (13-6, 4.10). Sat, 1:05p - Brian Matusz (4-2, 5.26) vs. A.J. Burnett (11-8, 4.19). Sun, 1:05p - Jeremy Guthrie (10-13, 4.96) vs. CC Sabathia (16-7, 3.40). After losing back-to-back games at Fenway Park this week, the O's have fallen 27 games under .500 and now are 22-46 on the road this season. O's pitching, recent series: Three games vs NYY: Allow 24ER, 39 hits, 7 homers Three games vs. Texas: Allow 9ER on 21 hits with 2 homers. Two games at Boston: Allow 16ER on 24 hits with 6 homers. In the two games at Boston, the O's starters pitched just eight total innings and the bullpen was called on to pitch eight innings. Tonight begins the final series of the year between the O's and New York. The Yankees have the best record in Major League baseball, plus the best record in the Majors since the All-Star game and the best record in the Majors in home games. New York completed a four-game sweep of Tampa on Wednesday. Over longer stretches, they have won 12 of 14 and 29 of the last 37 games. New York is 40-13 in the second half. Derek Jeter had three hits in Wednesday's win and is now tied with Lou Gehrig atop the Yankees all-time hits list at 2,721. Jeter has a .302 career average vs. the Orioles in 217 games. Yankees all-time hits leaders - 2,721 - Lou Gehrig 2,721 - Derek Jeter 2,518 - Babe Ruth 2,415 - Mickey Mantle 2,336 - Bernie Williams New York is 49-20 at home, winning 23 of its last 27. The Yankees are 39-22 on the year vs. AL East opponents, winning 27 of their last 33 within the division. New York has won 18 of its last 22 series with 11 sweeps during that stretch. The Orioles are 3-12 this season with 10 straight losses vs. the Yankees. That's the Birds longest losing streak vs. New York since 1955. Also, the O's are 0-6 this year at New York and have lost ten straight there since July 30, 2008. The Yankees are 19-3 in the last 22 between these teams. O's hitters, 2009 vs. New York: Andino: 2-17/0/0 Fiorentino: 0-1/0/0 Izturis: 5-34/1/3 Markakis: 21-59/5/12 Moeller: 2-10/0/0 Mora: 14-50/1/5 Pie: 7-26/1/1 Reimold: 9-28/2/2 Roberts: 17-62/1/3 Scott: 8-37/2/5 Wieters: 3-17/0/0 Wigginton: 8-30/1/4 The Orioles team average vs. New York is .263 with 61 runs scored and 20 homers. The Yankees have scored 100 runs with 31 homers vs. the O's, whose staff ERA is 6.68 vs. the Yankees.