The Yankees have gone 14-5 in their 19 series since the All-Star break. Of those five loses, one came in Anaheim, one came in Detroit, one came at home against the Devil Rays (something of a let-down series after the Yanks had swept the Red Sox), and two came against the Orioles. The first of those series came while the O’s were running off an 8-2 stretch to start Dave Trembley’s managerial career. The second came after the O’s had taken two of three from the Red Sox via a pair of walk-off wins. Since the last time these two teams met, however, the O’s have been a staggeringly awful 8-21 (.276). Curiously the slump began immediately after it was announced on August 21 that Trembley would return as the O’s manager next season, with the Birds promptly embarking on a nine-game losing streak after the announcement.

You can put your conspiracy theories away, however, as the O’s, despite their history of closing up shop early, have an excuse this time: injuries. Cy Young candidate Erik Bedard won the day day of Trembley’s extension, but tanked his next start after which he revealed he’d been pitching through an oblique strain, which has since shut him down for the season. Two weeks later, Jeremy Guthrie left a game with the same injury and hasn’t pitched since. A week after that Danys Baez tore something in his elbow which ended his season. In the meantime rookie Garrett Olson, who was attempting to replace Bedard, strained his forearm (he hasn’t even thrown on the side since then), and Radhames Liz, who was competing with Olson for a rotation spot, got roughed up so badly that he was banished to the bullpen despite the injuries to the others. On offense, center fielder Corey Patterson, who was hitting .313/.333/.458 in the second half, has been out since September 5 with a sprained ankle, and Melvin Mora was benched for four games with a tight back.

It’s no wonder the O’s have packed it up, shipping Steve Trachsel to the Cubs and taking flyers on repeated castoffs Victor Zambrano and Fernando Cabrera, who are trying to make good in the rotation and in the rotating closer spot respectively.

Still, the O’s seem to be figuring some things out, having won three of their last four by shutting out the Angels on Thursday and taking two of three from the Blue Jays over the weekend. Tonight the O’s send the erratic Daniel Cabrera to the mound in the Bronx. Cabrera’s coming off a stinker against the Angels (4 1/3 IP, 10 R). That was preceeded by an outing in which he was ejected after instigating a fight with the Red Sox after giving up three runs in 3 2/3 innings. Before that he turned in two nearly identical quality starts (6 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 1 HR, 4 BB, 7 and 8 K) against the Sox and Rangers. Before that another stinker (5 IP, 6 R), and before that 6 2/3 shutout innings against . . . the Yankees (who walked six times but managed just two hits). Go figure this guy, anyway.

The Yanks counter with Phil Hughes, who’s had two good starts in a row, battling back from an ugly first two innings in his last outing in Toronto, and posting this combined line in those two starts: 12 IP, 8 H, 4 R (3 ER), 1 HR, 5 BB, 7 K. He’s still not the Phil Hughes who dominated the Indians and nearly no-hit the Rangers, but he seems to be figuring things out. Here’s hoping he continues that trend tonight.

Baltimore Orioles

2007 Record:
2007 Pythagorean Record:

Manager: Dave Trembley
General Manager: Mike Flanagan

Home Ballpark (2007 Park Factors): Oriole Park at Camden Yards (99/99)

Changes:

• Freddie Bynum was activated from the DL
• Erik Bedard was placed on the 60-day DL
• Steve Trachsel was traded to the Cubs
• Paul Shuey was released
• Jon Leicester and Kurt Birkins were promoted from triple-A
• Radhames Liz was promoted from double-A
• Luis Hernandez, Gustavo Molina, and Fernando Cabrera (the last of whom was just signed to a minor league contract in late August) were called up with expanded rosters
• Victor Zambrano and Victor Santos were purchased from the Pirates and Reds respectively and added to the expanded major league roster

25-man Roster

1B – Kevin Millar (R)
2B – Brian Roberts (S)
SS – Miguel Tejada (R)
3B – Melvin Mora (R)
C – Ramon Hernandez (R)
RF – Nick Markakis (L)
CF – Tike Redman (L)
LF – Jay Payton (R)
DH – Aubrey Huff (L)

Bench:

L – Freddie Bynum (UT)
L – Brandon Fahey (UT)
S – Luis Hernandez (IF)
L – Paul Bako (C)
R – J.R. House (C/1B)
R – Gustavo Molina (C)
L – Corey Patterson (OF)*

Rotation:

R – Daniel Cabrera
R – Jon Leicester
L – Brian Burres
R – Victor Zambrano
R – Victor Santos
R – Jeremy Guthrie*
L – Garrett Olson*

Bullpen:

L – Jamie Walker
R – Chad Bradford
R – Jim Hoey
L – Kurt Birkins
R – Rob Bell
R – Fernando Cabrera
R – Radhames Liz
R – Danys Baez**

60-day DL: L – Jay Gibbons (OF/1B), L – Erik Bedard, R – Chris Ray, L – Adam Loewen, R – Jaret Wright, R – Kris Benson

*Injured
**Out for the season

Typical Lineup:

S – Brian Roberts (2B)
L – Tike Redman (CF)
L – Nick Markakis (RF)
R – Miguel Tejada (SS)
R – Kevin Millar (1B)
L – Aubrey Huff (3B)
R – Melvin Mora (3B)
R – Ramon Hernandez (C)
R – Jay Payton (LF)