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Preview: Yankees @ Orioles (6/28/13)

David Phelps (5-4, 4.01 ERA) is kicking off the Orioles series tonight against T.J. McFarland (1-0, 4.14 ERA). Phelps is facing the Orioles for the second time this year, first as a starter. He pitched four innings of scoreless one hit relief against them on April 13. He is 2-1 with a 2.66 ERA in four starts this month. Since joining the rotation, the 26 year old right hander is 4-3 with a 3.63 ERA and The Yankees are 7-3 in his 10 starts.

McFarland is a Rule 5 Draft pick from 2012, and the 24 year old is making his first Major League start. He has pitched to a 4.14 ERA in 18 relief outings. His longest outing of the season came on Sunday against the Blue Jays, he came into the game in the third inning and allowed five runs on five hits in 4 1/3 innings.

The Yankees’ shorthanded lineup and lack of production has put a lot of pressure on the pitchers to perform. Phil Hughes stepped up on Thursday, pitching an eight inning effort in which he allowed just two runs on five hits while striking out five and walking one, but the offense was stagnate getting zero runs.

Zoilo Almonte went hitless in 10 at bats during the series against Texas. However, he still holds a .318 batting average (7-22), a .400 on-base percentage with a .545 slugging percentage through the first eight games of his Majors career. Girardi has no plans to sit the rookie, “we’re running Z out there,” he said. “He’s played pretty well; we’ll continue to do that. We’ll continue to watch what he’s doing. But he’s played very well.”

 

Notes on the game.

Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez and Curtis Granderson continue their recoveries from their injuries in Tampa.

The Orioles are one game ahead of the Yankees for second place.

The Yankees and Orioles have split their first six meetings this season.

Brett Gardner has appeared in all 78 games for the Yankees this season.

 

Game kicks off at 7:05 PM (EST) on My9