Pre-Game Notes: Swisher, Suzuki, McGehee, Chamberlain

There are many pre-game notes today so let's just jump into it...

• Nick Swisher will start at DH on Wednesday. Girardi said that there was no setbacks. He just wanted to move him back to DH because of a day game after a night game. Girardi also noted that Swisher could be back in the outfield on Friday.
• Ichiro Suzuki will make his first start in left field today for the Yankees. Andruw Jones has been penciled in for left field and with a fly ball pitcher like Phil Hughes on the mound, Ichiro's speed could be used in left field. 
• Casey McGehee has arrived at the ballpark today and he will wear No. 45. McGehee also shaved his beard to comply with the Yankees facial hair policy. "It's just facial hair," McGehee said. "It's not like i'm going to win any beauty pageants with or without it."
• Joba Chamberlain has been activated off the disabled list yesterday and he will be available out of the bullpen. Joe Girardi said that he will treat him like any other guy in the bullpen and he doesn't think that he has limitations on when he can use him. 
• Ramiro Pena's stint with the Yankees is over for now. Pena has been optioned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to make room for Casey McGehee on the 25-man roster. 

The Yankees will play the finale against the Orioles today at the Stadium.nbsp;

Ramiro Pena Optioned to Triple-A

With their trade with the Pirates to acquire Casey McGehee, Ramiro Pena has been sent down to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to make room on the 25-man roster.

Pena had one single in four plate appearances and also pinch ran twice in his brief stint with the Yankees.

Casey McGehee will wear No. 45 for the Yankees and he will play first base and third base.

Game 104: Orioles at Yankees

August 1st 2012, 1:05 pm ET, Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New York

TV: YES Network Radio: WCBS 880

Weather: Isolated thunderstorms, 81 degrees, Wind: S at 8 MPH

The Yankees and Orioles will play the finale of their three game set today at the Stadium.

Here are the lineups:

Orioles (55-49)
Nick Markakis, RF
J.J. Hardy, SS
Chris Davis, DH
Adam Jones, CF
Matt Wieters, C
Wilson Betemit, 3B
Mark Reynolds, 1B
Endy Chavez, LF
Omar Quintanilla, 2B

Pitching: Zach Britton LHP (1-0, 5.74 ERA this season)
(Zach Britton against the Yankees: Click Here)

Yankees (60-43)
Derek Jeter, SS
 Curtis Granderson, CF
Nick Swisher, DH
Robinson Cano, 2B
Andruw Jones, RF
Russell Martin, C
Casey McGehee, 1B
Ichiro Suzuki, LF
Jayson Nix, 3B

Pitching: Phil Hughes RHP (10-8, 4.08 ERA this season)
(Phil Hughes against the Orioles: Click Here)

Enjoy the game!

Yanks' Lose Early Lead; Nova Struggles

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Orioles	0	7	1	0	1	0	0	2	0	11	13	1
Yankees	5	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	5	11	0

R

H

E

Orioles

0

7

1

0

1

0

0

2

0

11

13

1

Yankees

5

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

5

11

0

R

H

E

Orioles

0

7

1

0

1

0

0

2

0

11

13

1

Yankees

5

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

5

11

0

Ivan Nova stares at the baseball in the second inning on Tuesday. (Getty Images)

The Yankees continued to struggle on Tuesday night as they fell to the Orioles 11-5. The Yankees gave Ivan Nova a five run first inning, but Nova gave it all back and more in the second inning when he allowed seven runs to the Orioles.

Ivan Nova allowed 9 runs on 10 hits in 5 innings of work. He struck out 5 and walked 1. Nova lacked his command the whole game and he had an inconsistent slider and breaking ball. He finished his outing with 93 pitches thrown, in which 66 of them were for strikes.

The Yankees offense exploded in the bottom of the first when they were able to put up an early five spot. Robinson Cano cranked a two run shot and Curtis Granderson, Ichiro Suzuki, and Russell Martin each drove in a run.

The Yankees have lost four in a row and 9 of their last 12 games.

The Yankees and Orioles will play the finale tomorrow afternoon.

Game 103: Orioles at Yankees

July 31st 2012, 7:05 pm ET, Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New York

TV: YES Network Radio: WCBS 880

Weather: Partly Cloudy, 76 degrees, Wind: S at 6 MPH

The Yankees and Orioles will play the middle game of this three game set tonight.

Click Here for the probable pitchers for this series.

Here are the lineups:

Orioles (55-48)
Nick Markakis, RF
J.J. Hardy, SS
Chris Davis, DH
Adam Jones, CF
Matt Wieters, C
Lew Ford, LF
Wilson Betemit, 3B
Mark Reynolds, 1B
Omar Quintanilla, 2B

Pitching: Chris Tillman RHP (3-1, 1.66 ERA this season)
(Chris Tillman against the Yankees: Click Here)

Yankees (60-42)
Derek Jeter, DH
Curtis Granderson, DH
Robinson Cano, 2B
Nick Swisher, 1B
Raul Ibanez, LF
Eric Chavez, 3B
Ichiro Suzuki, RF
Russell Martin, C
Ramiro Pena, SS

Pitching: Ivan Nova RHP (10-4, 4.08 ERA this season)
(Ivan Nova against the Orioles: Click Here)

Enjoy the game!