• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Orioles-Yankees Preview

May 2, 2010 - 11:31 PM By SANTOSH VENKATARAMAN STATS Senior Writer

Baltimore (6-18) at New York (15-8), 7:05 p.m. EDT

CC Sabathia's debut with the New York Yankees was a poor outing against the Baltimore Orioles. He's dominated Baltimore since.

Sabathia looks to win his sixth straight start against the Orioles on Monday night when the Yankees open a three-game home set.

Before signing with New York (16-8) last year, Sabathia (3-1, 3.12 ERA) went 5-0 with a 2.38 ERA in nine starts against Baltimore (7-18). He lasted 4 1-3 innings in his Yankee debut last year, allowing six runs in a 10-5 loss.

The left-hander has reverted to form in posting a 1.91 ERA to win his last five outings versus the Orioles, including last Wednesday's 8-3 road victory. Sabathia allowed three runs over 7 2-3 innings and matched a season high with 111 pitches.

"I know he likes to finish what he started, but CC is important to us," manager Joe Girardi said. "He threw 97 pitches and 73 pitches his last two starts, and 111. We have to be careful how we handle him."

Sabathia will once again be opposed by right-hander Jeremy Guthrie (0-3, 4.70), who allowed seven runs in 4 2-3 innings last week. Guthrie beat Sabathia on opening day last season, but is 0-5 with a 6.44 ERA in five outings against the Yankees since.

The Orioles have lost all five of the right-hander's starts this season.

"I'm embarrassed that we had to run the bullpen out there for 4 1-3 innings because I was unable to keep the pitch count down and get people out," Guthrie said. "I'm apologetic to fans who pay to come and watch the Orioles and watch us lose, in this case, because of me. I'm apologetic to my teammates for the inability to help them win a game in five starts."

Baltimore still has baseball's worst record, but doesn't have to apologize for its play over the weekend. The Orioles completed a three-game home sweep of Boston with a 3-2, 10-inning victory Sunday.

"It's just great for the team, individuals who have gone through a lot of pain and mimicry for 30 days," manager Dave Trembley said. "I believe we've gotten through the worst. The good days are ahead."

Nick Markakis went 7 for 12 with five runs scored and five RBIs in the series.

"Things are coming around now," he said. "Hopefully it will continue."

The Orioles will try to a better job of containing Robinson Cano than they did in losing two of three in last week's series. Cano went 8 for 13 with three solo homers.

New York slugger Mark Teixeira may be coming out of his slump after he tied a career high with four hits in Sunday's 12-3 win over the White Sox. Teixeira has six hits the last two games after a .136 April.

"You try to go out there and put together a good season, No one's going to judge me on one month," Teixeira said.

Alex Rodriguez was given Sunday off after he was pinch run for in the ninth inning Saturday. Reports say that the superstar has a "muscle-related" injury to his right leg.

"He's a little bit stiff," Girardi said. "That's going to happen to all of our guys. When you play every inning of every game you're gonna feel something, but that doesn't mean that he's injured."