Yankees will get another crack at the AL East-leading Orioles before the All-Star break

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Here come the Orioles.

Again.

The Yankees wrapped up a three-game set against the Rays Thursday night at Tropicana Field, trying for their first series victory in eight tries.

Regardless of how that turned out, Friday brings a dramatic step up in competition as the Yankees, second in the American League East, start a three-game series at Camden Yards against the division-leading Orioles.

The Yankees, even after beating the Rays Wednesday night, came into Thursday 6-16 in their last 24 games since holding the best record in the majors (50-22) on June 14.

But, somewhat remarkably, they entered the day just two games behind the Orioles, who came into Thursday trying to avoid a sweep at the hands of the Cubs and were just 12-11 since June 15.

“Not really,” Aaron Boone said before Thursday night’s game of checking the standings at this time of year. “I kind of check the standings as a forum, just throughout the year, in April too. But don’t really put too much into it…you’re aware of where you are, certainly, all the time, but don’t get caught up whether you’re leading things, or chasing or whatever it may be. Just trying to play your best baseball.”

The young, athletic Orioles came into the season heavy favorites to repeat as division winners, no surprise after they ran away with the crown last year, going 101-61.

This will be the third meeting of the year between them and the Yankees, with neither series treating the latter particularly well.

The Orioles took three of four April 29-May 2 in Baltimore, then took two of three at Yankee Stadium June 18-20.

“Obviously, they’re a formidable group,” Boone said. “Tough opponent going into the break, but looking forward to getting up there, hopefully on the heals of winning a series.”

Gerrit Cole, who started the season on the injured list with right elbow inflammation, made his 2024 debut in the June 19 game against the Orioles, a 7-6 loss. The righthander, on a pitch count in the neighborhood of 60-65, allowed two runs, three hits and a walk over four innings in which he struck out five. The righthander will start Friday’s game, followed in the series by Luis Gil, who had a rebound performance in his last start against the Red Sox after three straight clunkers, followed by Carlos Rodon in Sunday’s 11:35 a.m. series finale.

“The depth is huge, the youthfulness, team-speed combination with power is big, and a lot of disciplined hitters,” Cole said of an Orioles’ offense that leads the AL in homers (147) and slugging (.457) and is second in runs (466, slightly behind the Yankees’ 469).

Of the importance of facing the Orioles just before the break, Cole said: “First-place team in our division, an extremely talented lineup. So no doubt it will be a good challenge, and that’s exciting.”

Cole, 1-1 with a 6.75 ERA in four starts, has thrown 90 pitches in each of his last two outings and said he feels, though not completely built up, fairly close to it.

And not in mid-season form because Cole’s season is just getting started.

“I feel really good about where I’m at in a vacuum,” Cole said of the progression of his buildup, especially when it comes to velocity and the shapes of his pitches. “[But] I’m still conscious, it’s early July for everyone else and it’s early April for me. That’s the challenge. That’s a challenge that can certainly be navigated. Maybe the margin for error is a little bit shorter, especially when your pitch count’s abbreviated. But now the pitch count is pretty much back up to normal.”

Extra bases

DJ LeMahieu, who was hit by a pitch on his left pinkie in the second inning Wednesday and then saw a foul ball hit in the seventh inning bounce straight up from the dirt and smack him in the throat, did not start Thursday as Oswaldo Cabrera started at third. Boone said the veteran underwent a CT scan on his face/neck area early Thursday – which came back negative – to make sure there weren’t any lingering issues from the foul ball…Boone said righty reliever Ian Hamilton, out since June 17 with a right lat strain, just began his throwing program.