Orioles on deck: What to watch Tuesday vs. Yankees, plus pregame roster moves

Orioles (25-66) vs. Yankees (59-30)

Where: Camden Yards

First pitch: 7:05 p.m.

TV/Radio: MASN/105.7 The Fan

Starting pitchers: Orioles RHP Andrew Cashner (2-9, 4.39 ERA) vs. Yankees RHP Masahiro Tanaka (7-2, 4.58 ERA)

Pregame roster moves

On Tuesday, the Orioles recalled left-hander Donnie Hart from Triple-A Norfolk and selected the contract of right-hander Jhan Mariñez (john marine-YEZ) from Norfolk. Mariñez will wear No. 59. In corresponding moves, the Orioles optioned right-handers Ryan Meisinger and Yefry Ramírez to Norfolk.

What to watch

1. Top of the division. This week brings an opportunity to see one of baseball’s top contenders trying to catch up with the first-place Boston Red Sox on the back half of the schedule. Since holding a two-game lead in the American League East on June 21, the Yankees are just 9-8 while the Red Sox have surged to seven straight victories. After Monday’s doubleheader split, the Yankees will be looking to capitalize on this soft spot in the schedule before having to travel to face the first-place Cleveland Indians next.

2. Cashner. Andrew Cashner might be 2-9, but he has exceeded expectations to a degree in his first year with the Orioles. He has been a shade better than a quality-start pitcher overall and has allowed three earned runs or fewer in 10 of his past 11 starts. He’s in the middle of perhaps his best extended run of the season, looking to extend a stretch of five quality starts in six games. during which time he has a 3.18 ERA. The only non-quality start in Cashner’s past six games was four scoreless innings at Washington — a start that ended prematurely because of a lengthy rain delay.

3. Beckham. In the nightcap of Monday’s doubleheader, Tim Beckham hit his first home run since returning from core muscle surgery late last month. Beckham has hit pretty well in 13 games after an 0-for-4 showing in his first game back, batting .288/.315/.385 with three extra-base hits and four RBIs.