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Picks, Predictions & Splits for Yankees vs Orioles (Aug 20)

Michael Harrison

By Michael Harrison in MLB Baseball

Published:


Gerrit Cole heads back to the dugout in a game versus the White Sox.
Jun 16, 2026; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole (45) walks to the dugout after the top of the fourth inning against the Chicago White Sox at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images
  • The New York Yankees go for the sweep against the Baltimore Orioles Thursday, August 20th
  • The pitching matchup features Gerrit Cole up against Kyle Bradish
  • See my predictions for Yankees vs Orioles along with my favorite MLB player prop selection

The New York Yankees (71-55) look to take out the brooms and sweep away their A.L. East division rival Baltimore Orioles (61-66) Thursday evening.

First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 PM ET / 3:35 PM PT from Oriole Park at Camden Yards, broadcasting live on MASN and YES and it features two strong starting pitchers in Gerrit Cole and Kyle Bradish. Continue reading for my analysis of this matchup and my favorite predictions for tonight’s duel.

Yankees vs Orioles Picks and Predictions

I see clear value in backing the visitors tonight. The Yankees enter this contest boasting a distinct advantage on the mound. New York’s overall team ERA sits at a league-leading 3.24, while Baltimore’s pitching staff has struggled to a 4.23 mark.

My Pick: New York Yankees Moneyline (-113 at Kalshi)
For the outright win, the best available price is on Kalshi, where New York trades at 54¢ (equivalent to -117 implied odds), edging out standard sportsbook prices. The Yankees hold a firm baseline advantage against a Baltimore team sitting 19th in the overall standings.

My Pick: Under 8.5 Runs (-137 at Polymarket)
Given the Yankees’ 70.0% Under trend over their last 10 games, fading a high-scoring environment is the analytical play. Both lineups are missing premium sluggers, further supporting this situational angle.

My Prop Pick: Gerrit Cole Over 6.5 Strikeouts (-102 at Caesars)
Checking the MLB pitcher strikeout props, Cole has exceeded 6.5 strikeouts in four of his last six outings, a solid 67.0% success rate. He averages 9.55 strikeouts per nine innings this season, making this the strongest player prop on the board.

Probable Pitchers: Gerrit Cole vs Kyle Bradish

StatisticColeBradish
W-L Record6-67-11
ERA3.223.65
WHIP1.081.36
FIP / xFIP3.30 / 3.563.86 / 4.01
K/99.558.39
Opp. Batting Avg..227.248
Games Started1524
Innings Pitched86.2133.0

Cole has been highly effective. Over 15 starts and 86.2 innings pitched, he boasts a 3.22 ERA and an elite 1.08 WHIP. His underlying metrics, including a 3.30 FIP, suggest his run prevention is supported by fundamental performance rather than luck. Cole has stifled opposing hitters to a .227 batting average while commanding the strike zone.

Bradish has been a workhorse, making 24 starts and logging 133.0 innings (12-12 record). His 3.65 ERA is solid, though a 1.36 WHIP indicates he has navigated more traffic on the basepaths. His 3.86 FIP points to a slight regression risk.

Yankees vs Orioles Season Stats

Evaluating the season-long data reveals several key mismatches. The table below outlines how the Yankees have performed offensively in away games and how the Orioles have fared at home.

StatisticNYYBAL
Overall Record (Win %)71-55 (.563) [6th]61-66 (.480) [19th]
Runs Per Game4.29 [20th]4.48 [16th]
Batting Average (AVG).227 [27th].238 [23rd]
OPS.684 [26th].730 [15th]
Home Runs Per Game1.26 [6th]1.27 [9th]
Stolen Bases Per Game0.82 [8th]0.48 [22nd]
Average Exit Velocity88.9 mph [4th]89.5 mph [1st]
Team ERA3.24 [1st]4.24 [19th]

The most glaring discrepancy lies on the mound. The Yankees boast the absolute best run-prevention unit in baseball. This immense pitching advantage heavily supports backing Cole in the prop market.

However, the Orioles have successfully carved out an offensive edge in their home ballpark. Baltimore averages 4.48 runs per game at Camden Yards, slightly edging out New York’s 4.29 road average.

Yankees vs Orioles Odds and Betting Splits

Bet TypeYankeesOrioles
Moneyline-121+110
Runline-1.5 (+140)+1.5 (-165)
Total RunsOver 8 (-115)Under 8 (-105)

Odds as of August 20, 2026, from Caesars. Start betting at Caesars now.

Checking the current MLB odds, the betting markets price New York as slight road favorites on the moneyline, while Baltimore sits as a home underdog. Given the massive pitching advantage with Cole on the mound, bettors have overwhelmingly backed the visitors.

A staggering 74.7% of moneyline tickets and 96.0% of the overall handle are riding on the Yankees to win outright. In the run line market, 61.7% of tickets and 77.8% of the handle favor New York covering the spread.

The total opened at a flat eight runs. While 52.2% of the public tickets favor the Over, 52.7% of the total market stake is backing the Under. This subtle financial preference for the Under aligns directly with my expectation of a pitching duel anchored by elite run-prevention metrics.

Yankees vs Orioles Injury Report

Player NamePositionInjuryStatus
Aaron JudgeRFRib60-Day IL
Giancarlo StantonDHLeg10-Day IL
Cody BellingerLFLeg10-Day IL
Ryan McMahon3BThumbQuestionable
Ryan Mountcastle1BFoot/Oblique60-Day IL
Jordan Westburg3BUCL60-Day IL
Blaze Alexander3BHand10-Day IL

How to Watch Yankees vs Orioles

TV Networks: YES and MASN

Away Team: New York Yankees

Home Team: Baltimore Orioles

Date: Thursday, August 20th

Game Time: 6:35 PM ET / 3:35 PM PT

Venue: Oriole Park at Camden Yards

Location: Baltimore, Maryland

Michael Harrison
Michael Harrison

Sports & Entertainment Writer

Michael "Hound Dog" Harrison is well known in the sports industry as the resident statistician for the SC with Jay Onrait Show. He has worked at TSN for over 20 years, is the CEO of his "All Bets Par Off" weekly golf betting videos and his HDOG POD, along with several others.

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