The New York Yankees had a golden opportunity to gain some ground on the Toronto Blue Jays last night for the lead in the AL East who were pummeled by the Kansas City Royals last night (20-1), but they did not. New York fell to the Baltimore Orioles, 4-2, due to another poorly managed game by Aaron Boone and sloppy play in the field. Tonight in Game 2 of their 3-game set with the Orioles at Birdland, the Yankees will send lefty Carlos Rodón to the hill. The southpaw is 16-9 with a 3.11 ERA, a 1.07 WHIP, and the Orioles are 0-4 in their last 4 games against a left-handed starter. Baltimore is expected to turn to Tomoyuki Sugano to throw strikes. Sugano is 10-8 with a 4.39 ERA and a 1.30 WHIP. The Yankees have the edge in runs scored, run differential, hits, homers, etc., etc., etc. New York wins this game if: Aaron Boone lets Rodón go deep in the game, has Cody Bellinger in left, Trent Grisham in center, Aaron Judge in right, Ryan McMahon at third, Anthony Volpe at short, Jazz Chisholm Jr. at second, Paul Goldschmidt at first, Ben Rice catching, and Giancarlo Stanton as the DH, the Bombers cruise to an easy victory; but you never know what Boone is going to do.
TONIGHT’S PICK: NEW YORK YANKEES