The Baltimore Orioles traveled from Tampa Bay to New York late Thursday night and are set to continue their winning streak on Saturday afternoon against the New York Yankees, who have slipped to a 1-7 record in their last eight games. With Zach Eflin pitching to extend Yankees slump, Baltimore hopes to capitalize on their recent surge and maintain control in the series.

Baltimore’s Rally Fueled by Key Hits and Strong Bullpen Performance

The Orioles have been impressive lately, posting a 14-6 record in their previous 20 games. They kicked off the series with a 5-3 win, powered by a crucial eighth-inning home run from Ramon Urias that broke a tie, followed by a pinch-hit RBI single from Gunnar Henderson. Baltimore’s offense also included a two-run single in the first inning from Gary Sanchez and a sixth-inning tying single by Coby Mayo. Their bullpen delivered 5⅓ shutout innings to close out the victory.

After arriving in New York following a subdued atmosphere in Tampa, Baltimore’s interim manager Tony Mansolino noticed a stark difference in energy. Mansolino reflected,

“We had a lot of energy today. In a strange way, coming from the vibe in Tampa — which was dead, to say the least — and then you walk into Yankee Stadium (Friday) after nobody got more than probably four, five, six hours of sleep, everybody’s out there in (batting practice) and they’re flying all over the field, so you had a good feeling.”

—Tony Mansolino, Baltimore interim manager

Injury Update and Offensive Struggles for Yankees

The Orioles began the series without their catcher Adley Rutschman, who experienced a left-side injury during batting practice. He is scheduled for tests Saturday and may miss a second consecutive game. Meanwhile, the Yankees managed 10 hits and five walks in Friday’s game but were unable to convert many opportunities, going 3-for-13 with runners in scoring position and leaving ten men on base.

Aaron Judge, who hit his sixth home run in 12 games and recorded his first three-hit game since early June, consistently reached base four times but struck out in the ninth inning against Felix Bautista. Despite Judge’s efforts, New York’s offense remains sluggish, as the team has scored three or fewer runs in eight of its last nine games, leading to just eight wins in their latest 20 contests compared to a previous 16-4 run.

Judge expressed optimism despite the challenges:

“It’s moving in the right direction. All good teams go through little slumps or situations where it’s not going your way. You’ve just got to keep trekking, keep moving forward.”

—Aaron Judge, New York Yankees

Pitching Matchup: Schmidt to Start for Yankees, Eflin to Bounce Back for Orioles

For Saturday’s game, the Yankees will start Clarke Schmidt, who is coming off his longest outing of the season. Schmidt pitched 7⅔ scoreless innings against the Los Angeles Angels on Monday, allowing just four hits and throwing 97 pitches. The 29-year-old right-hander, now 3-3 with a 3.16 ERA on the season, has posted a 3-4 record with a 4.03 ERA across six starts against Baltimore, including a recent outing on September 24 where he surrendered three runs over 5⅓ innings.

The Orioles are counting on Zach Eflin to regain his earlier form after a difficult start Monday, when he gave up seven runs on 12 hits across five innings in a 7-1 loss at Tampa Bay. Prior to that, Eflin had been undefeated in his last three starts, posting a 1.83 ERA. Against the Yankees, the 31-year-old right-hander holds a 3-3 record with a 2.44 ERA over nine starts in his career, and Baltimore is hopeful he can help tighten the game from the mound.

Expectations for the Series and the Road Ahead

With Zach Eflin pitching to extend Yankees slump, the Orioles aim to maintain their strong performance and disrupt the Yankees’ recovery efforts. New York faces mounting pressure to reverse their offensive struggles and stabilize their pitching rotation if they are to avoid a prolonged slump. Baltimore’s recent energy and success position them well to continue challenging the division leaders as the season approaches crucial moments.