Yankees vs. Orioles Game One of Series

The New York Yankees open up a three game series with the Baltimore Orioles tonight weather permitting at Yankee Stadium.  The Yankees lost two out of three in Boston over the weekend and will try and get back on track.  Here are some quick notes and the lineup for tonight.

The Baltimore Orioles are off to a fast start at 6-3 and first place in the AL East.  The Yankees are 5-4 on the young season.  The Yankees pitching has been erratic and the hitting has gone cold.  They are going to score runs though and every team goes through slumps.  They still have scored 50 runs in nine games. 

A.J. Burnett is starting tonight and will try to go 3-0.  He is still undefeated in the month of April as a Yankees and although he looks better this season he was 4-0 to start last year before he collapsed.  I think the main difference is that this year when Burnett does get in trouble he isn't allowing it to snowball, he is competing more and working out of things.  In the past he has looked lost and like he has given up when the going gets tough. 

Burnett will face Chris Tillman tonight, Phil Hughes will be vs. TBA tomorrow night and Thurday night it will be Ivan Nova vs. Jake Arrieta.  Robinson Cano will receives his silver slugger award prior to tonights game.  C.C. Sabathia is off to the second best start of his career in terms of ERA but has nothing to show for it.  He 0-1 in three starts with a 1.45 ERA. 

The Yankees are tied for the major league lead with 18 homeruns this season.  They have at least one homerun in seven of the nine games and at least two homeruns in six of the games.  The Yankees are 4-1 this season when holding their opponents to four or fewer runs.  Yankees batters scored in five different innings in consecutive games on Friday and Saturday in Boston marking the first time they have done that since 7/21 and 7/22/2007. 

Curtis Granderson already has two homers off left handed pitchers.  He didn't hit his second homer off of a lefty until August 24th of last year at Toronto.  Alex Rodriguez needs one RBI to pass Ken Griffey Jr. on the all-time RBI list for 13th place.  Derek Jeter needs two hits to tie Barry Bonds for 32nd on the all-time hits list.