Baltimore Orioles (41-91) vs. New York Yankees (77-56)
September 4, 2021 1:05 pm EDT
The Line: New York Yankees -357 / Baltimore Orioles +235; Over/Under: +10
(Get latest betting odds)
The Baltimore Orioles and the New York Yankees meet Saturday in MLB action from Yankee Stadium. This will be the second installment in a three-game series. In the Friday opener, New York eked out an extra-innings win. Check back all season long for free MLB picks at Sports Chat Place.
Baltimore played the Blue Jays this week, winning Tuesday but dropping the other two games. In the Friday opener versus the Yankees, the O’s tied the game up in the seventh and held on until the 11th inning in a 4-3 defeat. Starter John Means lasted 5.0 innings with two earned on three hits and two walks.
For the starter job in the Saturday game, the Orioles will turn to Chris Ellis. Over his three games (two starts) this year, Ellis has a 1-0 record with a 3.09 ERA and 12 Ks in 11.2 innings.
Over on the Yankees’ side, they had some trouble with the Angels this week, logging just one win in the Wednesday finale. In the Friday game, New York blew an early lead but hung on for the improbable win. Nestor Cortes managed 5.2 frames with one earned on two walks and four hits.
Starting pitcher for the Saturday game two will be the Yankees’ Jordan Montgomery. Over 130.1 innings this year Montgomery has 114 hits, 55 runs (51 earned), 14 homers allowed, 41 walks, 126 Ks and a 3.52 ERA.
The Orioles are 16-35 in their last 51 versus a lefty starter and 30-68 in their last 98 Saturday games. Baltimore is 26-75 in their last 101 overall and 14-41 in their last 55 in game two of a series.
Meanwhile, the Yankees are 116-54 in their last 170 home games and 70-32 in their last 102 Saturday games. New York is 36-15 in their last 51 in game two of a series and 36-15 in their last 51 overall.
PICK: I’m sticking with the Yankees, but probably staying away. Montgomery has given up more than one earned run (three) just once over his last six starts, so he’s been humming along lately. In his last pair, Montgomery has one earned on eight hits and four walks in 11.0 innings of work. It will be interesting to see what Ellis can do in his fourth game—I like him to hang in there—but ultimately this should probably be a Yankees win.
