The New York Yankees enter tonight’s game at Baltimore (7:05 p.m. ET) against the Orioles as the favorite according to oddsmakers at Sportsbook.com with a -136 chalk in spite of a three game losing streak and Roger Clemens, Yankees projected starter, is struggling (1-2, 5.09 ERA) and is opposed by Orioles starter LHP Erik Bedard who has been more effective from the mound with a 5-4 record and a 3.60 ERA. With Bedard on the mound, Baltimore is getting +126 ml juice from oddsmakers. Bedard has been successful in games against the Yankees winning in his last two starts versus New York including a 6-4 Baltimore victory at Yankee Stadium on April 8th.
The Yankees, mired in an offensive slump , hope to score runs at Baltimore’s Camden Yards to give Clemens a chance at win number two. New York is averaging three runs a game on the current road trip. After winning his first appearance of the season against Pittsburgh in Yankee Stadium on June 9th, he came up on the losing end against the Mets and Rockies in his next two starts. Since his last start, Clemens has made two relief appearances, one against the Giants and an appearance at Colorado.
In the series opener Tuesday night, Ramon Hernandez drew a bases loaded walk in the bottom of the ninth inning forcing in Corey Patterson for a 3-2 Baltimore win. Following the loss, a frustrated Yankees manager Joe Torre said it best, “We just walked ourselves right out of a game.”
The Yankees (36-38) are currently in third place in the AL East, 11.0 games back of the first place Boston Red Sox (48-28). New York has lost seven of its last 10 games and three straight.
Baltimore (33-43) is in last place in the East 15-games back of the Red Sox.
