Orioles: Keys to Beat the Yankees in Four-Game Set

The Baltimore Orioles will welcome the New York Yankees to Camden Yards for a four-game series on Monday, but how will Baltimore be able to beat the Yankees and possibly take the series?

Although the Yankees currently sit at 9-12 and tied for last place in the AL East with the Orioles, they took three out of four from the Indians and may have begun turning the corner.

So what can the Orioles do to stop the Yankees in their tracks? There are several key components to this question.

First, the Orioles need to limit the amount of Yankee base runners. Over the past several games, the Yankees began relying on the home run ball for offensive production. Solo home runs and two-run shots are not going to kill teams, but the three-run home runs and grand slams can make a difference in a game.

If the Orioles’ pitching staff can limit the amount of Yankees that get on base, they should be able to keep the games close. The Yankees have struggled with runners on base this season, but the home run ball has finally come alive.

Second, make the Yankee starters work. There is a good possibility that the Orioles may not face Gerrit Cole, so they need to take advantage of this opportunity. Besides Cole, the Yankee starters have not been as advertised.

If the Oriole offense can make the Yankee starters work in the first few innings, New York might have to rely on the bullpen for the majority of the game. Baltimore has to take advantage of the struggling rotation.

Lastly, the bullpen has to continue to perform as they have in recent weeks. John Means will not pitch in this series, so the starters will need to be ready to pitch solid innings.

However, if the starters cannot give a quality start, the bullpen needs to come in and finish the game out strong. It is not expected that they give up zero runs throughout four games, but as long as they don’t blow a lead or let the Yankees extend their lead.

If the Orioles do these three things, they should have a good chance of winning the four-game series. The first game is set for a 7:05 p.m. EST start on Monday.