Tuesday night Orioles game thread: vs. Yankees, 7:05

Remember when the Orioles lost 18 straight home games to the Yankees over a three-year span? That was...rough.

But now the O’s are on their way to flipping the script. Well, not that far on their way. Still, the Birds have won four straight games over the Yankees at Camden Yards dating back to last year, which is better than nothing. That includes their 4-2 victory in last night’s opener of the four-game series.

Tonight the Orioles will send out Bruce Zimmermann, who’s still looking for his first win since the Birds’ opening series in Boston. He hasn’t been battered around since then, but he’s coming off an abbreviated outing in Miami in which he couldn’t get through five innings. He’s never faced the Yankees before.

The Yankees will counter with two-time Cy Young winner Corey Kluber, who is several years removed from his glory years with Cleveland. He hasn’t made it through five innings in any of his four starts with New York. Despite Kluber’s 11 years in the majors, only two Orioles in tonight’s lineup have ever faced him: Maikel Franco and Trey Mancini, each of whom is 0-for-3.

The Orioles made a roster move earlier today, calling Pat Valaika back up from the Bowie alternate site to provide infield coverage while Freddy Galvis is sidelined with an adductor injury. (Ryan McKenna was sent down last night in the corresponding roster move.) Valaika is starting at shortstop tonight, just his third start of the year and first since the Orioles’ home opener April 8. Having witnessed Valaika try to play shortstop last season, I can’t say I’m enthused by the idea of watching it again.

Orioles lineup:

CF Cedric Mullins
DH Trey Mancini
RF DJ Stewart
3B Maikel Franco
LF Austin Hays
C Chance Sisco
1B Ryan Mountcastle
2B Rio Ruiz
SS Pat Valaika

LHP Bruce Zimmermann

Yankees lineup:

1B DJ LeMahieu
DH Giancarlo Stanton
RF Aaron Judge
3B Gio Urshela
SS Gleyber Torres
CF Aaron Hicks
LF Clint Frazier
C Kyle Higashioka
2B Rougned Odor

RHP Corey Kluber