Yankees have taken notice of Orioles' impressive turnaround
Yankees' DJ LeMahieu runs the bases while scoring from first base on a double by Aaron Judge during the first inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Tuesday, May 17, 2022, in Baltimore. Credit: AP/Julio Cortez
BALTIMORE — The Baltimore Orioles have made the most dramatic turnaround of any team from last season to this one.
After going 52-110 in 2021, the Orioles came into this weekend’s series against the Yankees a .500 club (46-46). They began the year 8-16 but have won 11 of their last 13.
Before the start of the season, Orioles manager Brandon Hyde was viewed in the industry as a man whose job was in jeopardy. Now it very much seems as if he’ll be able to stick around a while longer.
The turnaround does not come as a surprise to the Yankees, who went 11-8 against Baltimore in 2021. Although they entered Friday t 9-4 against the Orioles this season, many of those games resembled the vast majority from last year — taut, tough games that came down to the later innings.
“I think we saw it early,” Aaron Boone said before Friday night's game. “I think we as a group were aware of it. We played them a lot, obviously, early in the season. We realized they were at another level pitching-wise at the start of the season. They have depth in the bullpen now and we’ve seen their starters really pitch well for the better part of a couple months, which has probably kind of fueled their competitiveness in the American League East. Everyone’s aware of them. They’ve beaten up on some really good American League opponents as they’ve surged. They’re just a much more complete team.”
Entering Friday, Orioles pitchers had a 2.96 ERA in their last 27 games since June 17, the third-best team ERA in the majors during that stretch, trailing the Mariners (2.52) and Astros (2.87).
Speaking of a resurgence…
DJ LeMahieu struggled to find consistency at the plate much of the first half but entered the weekend series among the Yankees' hottest hitters, batting .348 (32-for-92) with a .496 on-base percentage and a .963 OPS in his last 27 games. The two-time batting champion is hitting .282 with nine homers and a .387 OBP in 85 games this year.
“I think it’s just kind of lining up now,” Boone said. “He’s probably been rewarded a little bit more for what I feel like has been a real consistent approach and consistent contact throughout the year. I feel like there was a long stretch there where he was getting his hits and getting on base some, but it was two lineouts to right or right-center, or he’d just miss a ball to center. He’s starting to get some results now. And the clip he’s getting on base now is impressive.”
Erik Boland started in Newsday's sports department in 2002. He covered high school and college sports, then shifted to the Jets beat. He has covered the Yankees since 2009.
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