3 Storylines that will decide the series between the Orioles and Yankees

May 19, 2023; Toronto, Ontario, CAN;   Baltimore Orioles first baseman Ryan Mountcastle (6) hits a home run against the Toronto Blue Jays
May 19, 2023; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Baltimore Orioles first baseman Ryan Mountcastle (6) hits a home run against the Toronto Blue Jays / Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
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After a weekend sweep of the Toronto Blue Jays in Canada, the Orioles return to the states and head to New York City for a three game series against another division rival in the New York Yankees. With both teams entering the series playing good baseball, three storylines will be key to follow in the series.

Three storylines to keep a close eye on in the Baltimore Orioles series against the New York Yankees

Oct 22, 2022; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher Gerrit Cole (45) is checked for substances after completing an inning
Oct 22, 2022; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher Gerrit Cole (45) is checked for substances after completing an inning / Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

The Sticky Stuff saga

Recently, the Yankees have come under fire after two foreign substance checks, better known as sticky stuff. After being ejected from Tuesday's game against the Toronto Blue Jays thanks to having foreign substances, Domingo Germán is serving a 10 game suspension because of his use of the sticky stuff.

On Friday in Cincinnati, another starter, Clarke Schmidt, was also found to have sticky stuff on his hands. Instead of being ejected and suspended like German, the umpires instead merely forced Schmidt to wash his hands and allowed him to continue pitching, much to David Bell's displeasure.

With the recent events, it's fair to say that this will be a focus of the series, with umpires looking to catch anyone in use of the substance during the game.

May 19, 2023; Toronto, Ontario, CAN;   Baltimore Orioles designated hitter Anthony Santander (25) high fives teammates after a home run in Toronto
May 19, 2023; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Baltimore Orioles designated hitter Anthony Santander (25) high fives teammates after a home run in Toronto / Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports

Two slugging lineups face off

A large reason why both teams are having the recent success they are is because of the lineups. The Yankees enter the game with a +31 run differential, while the Orioles boast a +41 run differential as the Orioles are in second in the AL East, with the Yankees in third.

The Yankees enter Tuesday's contest having scored 56 runs in their last 10 games, most recently sweeping the Cincinnati Reds over the weekend and winning a series against the Toronto Blue Jays and splitting with the Tampa Bay Rays.

Baltimore has scored 42 runs in their last 10 games, with a shutout against the Pittsburgh Pirates thrown in as part of the equation. Entering this series, they took two of three from the Pirates, split with the Los Angeles Angels and swept the Blue Jays. Both lineups are clicking right now, and whichever one can stay the hottest will have a big advantage.

May 6, 2023; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Baltimore Orioles manager Brandon Hyde (18) makes a pitching change against the Atlanta Braves
May 6, 2023; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Baltimore Orioles manager Brandon Hyde (18) makes a pitching change against the Atlanta Braves / Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Which manager outcoaches the other

Brandon Hyde of the Orioles and Aaron Boone of the Yankees have had their ups and downs in their tenures managing their respective teams. Both have been praised at certain times and drawn ire at others, as is tradition with pretty much every manager in the game, past and present.

Another factor that will help decide the series is who makes the best decisions in the dugout. If Hyde and the Orioles can push the right buttons with the lineup and pitching changes, they have the upper hand over the Yankees. However, if Boone is able to do it better than Hyde in the visitors dugout, it will be the Yankees with the upper hand over the Orioles.

This series will be quite the fun one to watch, with both teams matched up very well. To predict a sweep either way seems foolish, as I see both teams getting at least a win in this series. Who wins it will come down to the three factors I just mentioned. Let's play ball!

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