Jason Hammel will be making just his fourth start since mid-July today when he faces the Yankees in Game 5 of the ALDS, but Orioles manager Buck Showalter said he isn’t worried about the lack of work as he heads into the do-or-die series finale.
“I think it’s almost in his favor,” Showalter said after the Orioles forced another game by outlasting the Yankees, 2-1, in 13 innings last night in The Bronx. “He’s got some bullets left where a lot of people may not.”
Hammel has battled a right knee injury throughout the season, but held the Yankees to two runs over 5 2/3 innings in the first game of the ALDS.
It will be another challenge for the right-hander, who had arthroscopic surgery on the knee earlier in the year.
If anything, Hammel said he is more confident heading into today’s start, because of his success in Game 1 — the first time he had to pitch with a brace on his right knee.
“Just to get through [the first game] healthy, I really didn’t know what to expect,” said Hammel, adding he felt “as good as I’ve felt in the last three or four months.”
The Orioles have largely kept the Yankees’ offense off-balance through the first four games of the series and, after chasing them all season, now have a chance to finally knock them off.
But if Hammel is stressing over pitching in the intense spotlight, he wasn’t showing it last night.
“It is all or nothing, but there’s no reason to pressure ourselves anymore,” said Hammel.