Yanks vs Birds at the Stadium

As every Yankee fan knows, the Baltimore Orioles are making noise in the AL East and are knocking on the Bomber's door for sole possession of first place. With a record of 72-58, 3 games back of the Yanks, Baltimore may seem a little scary to New Yorker's this summer.

The Yankees did not play their best baseball when they needed to the most against the Blue Jays, losing 2 of 3 to an abysmal Toronto ball club. This weekend begins the start of September baseball; it will be the best baseball we will see this season. For the Yanks, 13 of their next 16 games will be played against Baltimore and Tampa Bay. In order for the Bombers to keep their stature in the American League, they will NEED 2 of 3 from these O's this weekend. There are no more wants, only needs.

Here's how brutal the final month of the season will be:

8/31-9/2: vs. Baltimore
9/3-9/5: @ Tampa Bay
9/6-9/9:  vs. Baltimore
9/11-9/13: @ Boston
9/14-9/16: vs. Tampa Bay


I cannot stress enough how important these games will be for the 2012 New York Yankees. Business always needs to be taken care on home turf. It's time to end the Baltimore fantasy land they've been living in and show who really owns this division. Bring the A-game Yanks. It's your only choice.

PITCHING MATCH-UPS:
                 
                     BAL (72-58)                 NYY (75-55)

Friday:  M. Gonzalez (5-3, 3.66) vs. H. Kuroda (12-9, 2.98)
Saturday: W. Chen (12-7, 3.78)  vs. F. Garcia (7-5, 4.90)
Sunday: C. Tillman (7-2, 3.26)  vs. D. Phelps (3-4, 2.96)