Spring Training Game 19: Yankees at Orioles

By: Gavin Ewbank | Lead Writer

While most of the big names prepared for a match against the Miami Marlins tonight in Panama, the Yankees have sent a bunch of minor leaguers to take care of business in Sarasota today as the face the Baltimore Orioles at Ed Smith Stadium.

Vidal Nuno will make his first start in a while. He came into the spring as a far outside shot to win the Yankees' fifth starter job, and even though he pitched well in his first two starts of the spring, it seems as if he is already out of the race with about two weeks left in Florida.

Nuno's last start was against the Toronto Blue Jays back on March 2nd, and he pitched pretty well, tossing two innings of one-run ball, giving up two hits while striking out three. His only blemish of the day was a solo homerun off the bat of Jose Bautista in the 1st inning.

Yankees manager Joe Girardi said after the game that it's possible Nuno could be placed in the bullpen to start the season if he doesn't win the fifth starter job.

“I think you have to consider him, too,” Girardi said. “I think you have to. He’s left-handed. He can give you some innings. He can get left-handers and right-handers out. I think you have to look at it.”

Today's lineup against Baltimore:

Today's lineup vs. BAL: Suzuki RF, Roberts 2B, Johnson 3B, Romine C, Flores LF, Williams CF, Roller DH, Angelini SS, Arcia 1B, Nuno P.
— Gavin Ewbank (@GavinEwbank) March 15, 2014

Only a few unknown names in the starting lineup, but it gets worse with the second string players listed below. Eduardo Nunez will cleated in the leg during yesterday's game, but he wasn't scheduled to play today anyway, so that is not why he isn't playing today. Russ Canzler was suppose to travel with the team today, but stiffness in his neck that came up the other day have kept him out.

Today’s second string: C Pete O’Brien, 1B Zach Wilson, 2B Rob Refsnyder, SS Cito Culver, 3B Rob Segedin, LF Ben Gamel, CF Jake Cave, RF Taylor Dugas.

Today’s scheduled relievers: Brian Gordon, Mark Montgomery, Danny Burawa, Diego Moreno and Joel De La Cruz (Shane Greene, Manny Barreda, Graham Stoneburner, Branden Pinder and Charlie Short are also making the trip).

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