The Orioles are in the Bronx just a week after the three game sweep, and Ivan Nova (2-2, 4.63 ERA) hopes to avoid another against Miguel Gonzalez (6-3 3.77 ERA). Nova will step into the rotation in place of Hiroki Kuroda who suffered a hip flexor and is just missing one start. Nova’s last outing was against the Orioles in Baltimore, a relief effort in which he allowed two runs and six hits in 5 2/3 innings, including a long Chris Davis homer.
Gonzalez will be working on two extra days of rest. The right hander has a 3.77 ERA in 14 starts. Gonzalez gave up nine hits but just three runs over 6 2/3 innings at home against the Indians his last time out. In two starts against the Yankees this season, Gonzalez has allowed five runs (four earned) in 13 innings. The Yankees’ batting against him is .217/.308/.261 in 53 plate appearances. “The advantage is, I face a lot of lefties and my off speed works pretty well against them,” Gonzalez said of facing the Yankees often. “And mixing in pitches, I think, just helps me out a little bit more.” He lost his only start at Yankee Stadium this season, after he walked five batters and struck out four in six innings of two run ball. He said it’s critical to have fun and remain confident when pitching in a ballpark like Yankee Stadium.
Francisco Cervelli suffered a setback as he was recovering from a fractured right hand suffered back in April. He will now be shut down for two weeks after it was discovered Wednesday that he has a stress reaction in his right elbow. “It’s an old stress reaction, they believe, and we had to shut him down two weeks,” Joe Girardi said. “It’s not what we want, but we’re dealing with it.” He’s played in just 17 games this season, with Chris Stewart and rookie Austin Romine splitting time behind the dish in his absence.
Notes on the game.
Eduardo Nunez has moved up to Double-A Trenton on his rehab stint.
The only Yankees hitter with at least 10 career at bats against Gonzalez is Robinson Cano, who is 2-for-12 lifetime off him.
Chris Davis is 6-16 with two home runs in his career against Nova, Nick Markakis is 10-for-25 and catcher Matt Wieters is 9-for-21 with three homers.
The Orioles have hit the most homeruns in the Majors and have more home runs hit against them than any other team, both 117.
Game kicks off at 7:05 PM (EST) on Yes.
