Game three between Orioles and Yankees expected to be pitching duel

The pitching matchup for AL division series game three is expected to feature the Orioles’ Miguel Gonzalez against the Yankees’ Hiroki Kuroda. Both have documented success against the other team.

Orioles manager Buck Showalter more than likely expects the game to be controlled by great pitching, win or lose. After his team took the win in the second game of the series in Baltimore, he explained pitching will more than likely be the key in every postseason game.

“…If we don’t pitch well, the ball will end up where the grass doesn’t grow. If a pitcher is on top of his game, and the hitter is on top of his game, this time of year, pitchers win,” Showalter said. “That’s why people are playing in October. It’s because of their pitching.”

Gonzalez had a 9-4 regular season record with a 3.25 ERA. In games against the Yankees, he was 2-0 with 17 strikeouts on 53 at bats. The Yankees’ batters with the most success against him in 2012 were Eric Chavez (3 hits), Derek Jeter (2), Raul Ibanez (2) and Ichiro Suzuki (2).

Yankees right-hander Kuroda had a 16-11 regular season record with a 3.32 ERA. He was 1-1 in games against the Orioles, and gave up five runs in 54 batters faced. According to the statistics, batters who had the most success against Kuroda in the regular season were Adam Jones (2 hits), Chris Davis (2 RBIs) and Mark Reynolds (homerun, 2 RBIs).

After a one-day break, the teams travel to New York to finish the best-of-five series. Game three will be played at 7:30 p.m. and broadcast on TBS.

The series is currently tied at 1-1.