Sunday afternoon Orioles game thread: at Yankees, 1:05

The Orioles, having already guaranteed their first series loss of the season, will now try to avoid their first time being swept on the season against the Yankees on Sunday afternoon. They probably won't do so, because this weekend is clearly calibrated precisely to provide maximum misery to Orioles fans and it has thus far played out accordingly. Even other sports teams are getting in on this act, as the Capitals fans of Birdland can attest.

Will things get any better today with the Orioles facing their dread foe, a lefty? I think not. Is Wade Miley, when you get down to it, going to be the stopper? Well, I guess he might, if we're lucky. He has a nice ERA. Miley will be pitching to Welington Castillo for the first time all season, which is the kind of thing that will be talked about as if it matters even though proving it is a tougher task.

Chris Davis was a late scratch from this afternoon's lineup. Orioles beat writers indicated that Davis has a sore right elbow after being hit by a pitch earlier in the series. Hopefully one day off is enough for whatever was wrong to get right.

Two pitchers who rode the struggle bus this weekend, Vidal Nuno and Jayson Aquino, have been optioned to Norfolk. Richard Bleier and Logan Verrett have been summoned from Norfolk. If things go as bad as I figure they will in this game, we could see one or both today.