By Joe Schiller
Baseball is back at Camden Yards.
The Orioles began the season with six road games and return to Baltimore for the home opener on Thursday.
Here's what you need to know:
Who: Baltimore Orioles vs. New York Yankees
Where: Camden Yards
First Pitch: 3:05 p.m. ET
Probable Pitchers: Alex Cobb (0-0) vs. James Paxton (0-1)
For a team with extremely low expectations, the Orioles couldn't have asked for a better start to the season. They took two of three games against the Yankees after an Opening Day loss and followed it up with a series win against the Blue Jays.
Alex Cobb is set to make his debut after beginning the season on the injured list. James Paxton pitched 5.2 innings and allowed one earned run in the Yankees' 5-3 loss to the Orioles last week. He pitched well enough to win that day.
What to Watch For
Trey Mancini
Trey Mancini is off to a hot start. He's hit three home runs in six games, including a three-run shot in the Orioles' 5-3 loss on Tuesday.
Mancini's only game this season without an RBI came against Paxton and it should be a fun battle to watch.
Decimated New York Roster
Look to see how the Yankees' depth fares. Injury woes have decimated Aaron Boone's lineup early on. Jacob Ellsbury, Didi Gregorius, C.C. Sabathia, Aaron Hicks, Giancarlo Stanton, Miguel Andujar and Troy Tulowitzki are on the Injured List.
If there's a time for the Orioles to take advantage of a talented team, Thursday provides the perfect opportunity.
The Crowd
Baltimore loves its baseball. There should be a good crowd, even on a weekday. The temperature is expected to reach the mid-60's and an opportunity to skip work watch baseball is awesome.
There's a jolt of excitement early on after a strong start to the season. Expect the crowd to mirror that.
