Yankees Favored at -118 Over Orioles as Will Warren Faces Chris Bassitt

Q: Will rushing Chris Bassitt back from spinal surgery backfire on the Orioles as they desperately cling to their 2026 postseason hopes?

Yes, it could backfire, but the bigger issue is not simply that Chris Bassitt is back from surgery — it is that Baltimore is asking a 37-year-old starter with poor 2026 results to stabilize a thin rotation in a pennant race. The warning signs are clear. Bassitt had a procedure to remove a bone spur near his lumbar spine after injections failed, and even he said there was little precedent for the rehab. He had been out since early June, returned only recently, and threw 5.1 innings against Tampa Bay in his first game back. That is encouraging, but it does not prove he is fully stretched out or that his back will hold up under regular starter workload. Performance is the other risk. Before the injury, Bassitt had a 5.27 ERA and 1.63 WHIP, with declining strikeout numbers. Even after his return, the overall line remains shaky at 4-4 with a 5.11 ERA. He has been much better at home, which gives Baltimore some reason for optimism, but the Yankees are a difficult test and Will Warren has already handled the Orioles well this season. So the move is understandable, not reckless. Baltimore’s rotation has been depleted, and the Orioles need innings. But if Bassitt cannot work deep, or if his command and stuff remain diminished, the decision could strain the bullpen and hurt a team already fighting to stay relevant in the Wild Card race. The risk is real because Baltimore needs more than a healthy Bassitt; it needs an effective one.

3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Aug 19

Will Warren’s two starts against Baltimore this season — three earned runs over 12 innings — are the main reason New York is favored to beat the Orioles.
Chris Bassitt enters at 4-4 with a 5.11 ERA and is making only his second start since returning from injury, after allowing two earned runs in 5.1 innings against Tampa Bay.
New York is 15 games above .500 despite injuries to Aaron Judge, Cody Bellinger, Giancarlo Stanton and Max Fried, with Warren carrying an 8-6 record and 4.42 ERA.
Baltimore has improved from 38-43 at midseason to a 19-15 stretch since July 8, but its push toward .500 still leaves only an outside postseason chance.