Masahiro Tanaka Returns To The Rotation As New York Takes On Baltimore

After missing time because of hamstring issues after running the bases on June 8th against the Mets   Japanese right -hander Masahiro Tanaka will return to the rotation as New York takes on Baltimore at Camden Yards on Tuesday night.

The right -hander comes into the game against Baltimore with a record of 7-2 with a 4.58 earn run average. "according to http://m.mlb.com/player/547888/masahiro-tanaka Tanaka, activated from the disabled list, is coming off a five-inning, 69-pitch rehab start at Triple-A on July 4. He sustained strains of both hamstrings while running the bases against the Mets on June 8. "according to http://mlb.mlb.com/news/probable_pitchers/index.jsp?c_id=nyy He will oppose Baltimore right -hander Andrew Cashner who comes into the game against New York with a record of 2-9 with a 4.39 earn run average. "according to http://m.mlb.com/player/488768/andrew-cashner The right-hander has five quality starts in his last six outings, but is 0-3 in that span as he suffers from the third-worst run support of any pitcher in the Majors. He holds a 3.18 ERA over his last six starts. "accord3we

New York comes into the game against Baltimore with a record of 59-30 and is 2.5 games back in the American League East behind their rival Boston.  Baltimore meanwhile comes into the game against New York with a record of 25-66 and is last in the division. "according to   http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/standings/

New York and Baltimore had a busy day and night on the diamond Monday as they played a doubleheader.

As for game one, 

CC Sabathia raised both arms in exaltation after coercing a fifth-inning double-play ball on Monday, a high point of an effort in which he had to grind hard against a last-place Orioles club. The lefty's jubilance did not last, as Danny Valencia's go-ahead homer handed the Yankees a 5-4 loss in the first game of a doubleheader at Camden Yards. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/cc-sabathia-cant-slow-os-in-twin-bill-opener/c-285028436

Valencia snapped an 0-for-25 skid as he sent an 80.4-mph Sabathia slider beyond the center-field wall for a three-run blast in the sixth inning, helping Baltimore capitalize after first baseman Neil Walker whiffed on a potential twin-killing that was scored as a double for Jonathan Schoop. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/cc-sabathia-cant-slow-os-in-twin-bill-opener/c-285028436

"I think it was just a pitch he knew was coming," Sabathia said. "I probably should've went a different way right there, especially after he swung at the first one and I tried to do it again. That was a mistake on my part. Both of those guys that I get out most of the time, so that's frustrating." "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/cc-sabathia-cant-slow-os-in-twin-bill-opener/c-285028436

The O's snapped a six-game losing streak and won for just the second time in 15 contests. New York fell to 3-4 against Baltimore this season as Mark Trumbo also hit a two-run homer off Sabathia, part of a lengthy fourth inning in which Sabathia was able to pin the bases loaded to prevent further damage. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/cc-sabathia-cant-slow-os-in-twin-bill-opener/c-285028436

"They have some right-handed hitters with some power, but usually CC is able to take advantage of some teams that are aggressive," Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. "This is a very aggressive team, but to their credit, I thought they did a real nice job of laying off some close pitches and the cut fastball." "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/cc-sabathia-cant-slow-os-in-twin-bill-opener/c-285028436

Sabathia barked frequently at home-plate umpire John Tumpane as he permitted seven hits over five-plus innings. He has not defeated the Orioles since May 4, 2016, a span of nine starts. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/cc-sabathia-cant-slow-os-in-twin-bill-opener/c-285028436

"I'm usually better than that, and able to clear my mind and go out and just make pitches whatever the situation is," Sabathia said. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/cc-sabath

Giancarlo Stanton hit his 22nd homer before Aaron Judge and Didi Gregorius punched run-scoring singles off O's right-hander Jimmy Yacabonis, who scattered six hits over five innings in his second big league start. Walker's sixth-inning RBI single off Mike Wright Jr. gave the Yankees a two-run lead at the time. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/cc-sabathia-cant-slow-os-in-twin-bill-opener/c-285028436

"They're all a grind, and every win is a good one and feels good," Boone said. "The losses stink. We don't have really a lot of time to soak this one in. We'll get onto the next one right now." "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/cc-sabathia-cant-slow-os-in-twin-bill-opener/c-285028436

SOUND SMART
Sabathia's fourth-inning strikeout of Joey Rickard marked his 1,528th strikeout as a Yankee, surpassing Red Ruffing (1,527) for fourth place on the franchise's all-time strikeout list. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/cc-sabathia-cant-slow-os-in-twin-bill-opener/c-285028436

Game two between New York and Baltimore on the other hand had a different outcome as New York bounced back from the loss in game one. 

While general manager Brian Cashman performed his due diligence off the diamond, gauging the asking price for a surprise strike that would fit Manny Machado for Yankees pinstripes, big performances by Luis Cessa and Brett Gardner helped take care of business against the All-Star shortstop's current team. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/luis-cessa-pitches-yanks-past-os-in-game-2/c-285046770

Cessa returned from the Minors to fire six strong innings and Gardner punctuated his productive road trip with a homer among four hits, three runs scored and three RBIs. The Yankees thumped Orioles pitching for a season-high 17 hits in a 10-2 rout in the nightcap to split Monday's doubleheader at Camden Yards."according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/luis-cessa-pitches-ya

Game 1 was a close game," Gardner said. "To be able to turn the page, come back and have a good game in the nightcap, and have a relatively easy win to save our pitching staff and our bullpen, I thought that was important." "according to //www.mlb.com/yankees/news/luis-cessa-pitches-yanks-past-os-in-game-2/c-285046770

Added to the roster between games of the twin bill, Cessa scattered three hits and three walks in a solid effort to pick up his first win of the season, with his four-strikeout effort helping the visitors bounce back from a 5-4 loss in Game 1. Danny Valencia's three-run homer off CC Sabathia held up as the difference in that contest, a makeup of a May 31 postponement. "according to //www.mlb.com/yankees/news/luis-cessa-pitches-yanks-past-os-in-game-2/c-285046770

"I'm really happy," said Cessa, who was optioned back to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre following the game. "I started working last time when they sent me down to Scranton. [Pitching coach] Larry [Rothschild] told me I needed to be more aggressive early in the count. I tried to be aggressive here and pitch a little more inside." "according to //www.mlb.com/yankees/news/luis-cessa-pitches-yanks-past-os-in-game-2/c-285046770

Austin Romine homered and drove in three runs as New York pulled away. While the clubs slugged between the white lines, rumors swirled concerning the 26-year-old Machado, who could potentially wear a different uniform when he reports as the American League's starting shortstop for next week's All-Star Game presented by Mastercard. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/luis-cessa-pitches-yanks-past-os-in-game-2/c-285046770

The Yankees have showed "increased interest" in Machado, according to MLB Network insider Ken Rosenthal, though he indicated that no deal appears close. The Brewers and Dodgers had been thought to be the most serious suitors for Machado, who went 1-for-7 with a double and a run scored in Monday's twin bill. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/luis-cessa-pitches-yanks-past-os-in-game-2/c-285046770

"Rumors are just a rumor. I don't talk rumors," Machado said. "I play baseball. We got our [butts] kicked today, the second game. We won the first game, but I'll talk baseball. I'll talk baseball with you all you want. I don't talk rumors." "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/luis-cessa-pitches-yanks-past-os-in-game-2/c-285046770

The prospect of Machado relocating to The Bronx has been a popular talking point for years, but the crowded left side of the Yankees' infield could present a potential stumbling block. Didi Gregorius has played well as their shortstop since 2015, and Machado flatly rejected a question about returning to third base. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/luis-cessa-pitches-yanks-past-os-in-game-2/c-285046770

"I'm a shortstop," Machado said. "I play shortstop." "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/luis-cessa-pitches-yanks-past-os-in-game-2/c-285046770

The Yankees touched O's starter Yefry Ramirez for four runs and nine hits over four-plus innings, striking quickly. Gardner started the nightcap with a single and scored on Gregorius' double, then padded New York's lead with a long two-run homer to right-center field in the fourth inning, the outfielder's seventh of the season."according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/luis-cessa-pitches-yanks-past-os-in-game-2/c-285046770

Gardner has tallied two homers and seven RBIs on the Yanks' road swing through Toronto and Baltimore, stroking an eighth-inning double and legging out an infield hit in the ninth. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/luis-cessa-pitches-yanks-past-os-in-game-2/c-285046770

"I said last year, all these young guys have me feeling young again," Gardner said. "I'm just trying to keep up with them, go out there and put up good at-bats, and get on base for those big guys." "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/luis-cessa-pitches-yanks-past-os-in-game-2/c-285046770

YOU GOTTA SEE THIS
Gardner was pleased with his four hits, but he seemed even more enthused with his catch at the wall to take an extra-base hit away from Chance Sisco in the eighth inning. Gardner said he didn't think he had a chance at the ball off the bat. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/luis-cessa-pitches-yanks-past-os-in-game-2/c-285046770

"I didn't, to be honest. I knew he hit it well," Gardner said. "I wasn't sure where it was going to land, but I was playing way over and way in with two strikes. I just put my head down and started running. I was able to catch up to it. I just ran to the right spot, fortunately."according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/luis-cessa-pitches-yanks-past-os-in-game-2/c-285046770

First pitch is set for 7:05pm. The game will be televised on MASN and Yes. "according to https://www.mlb.com/gameday/yankees-vs-orioles/2018/07/10/530779?#game_state=preview,lock_state=preview,game_tab=,game=530779