The Matchup

CATCHER: Oriole Chris Hoiles has thrown out only 18% of opposing baserunners but had 25 homers and 73 runs batted in, and two of his homers won games in the ninth. The Yankee platoon of Joe Girardi and Jim Leyritz won’t strike much fear in the hearts of Baltimore pitchers but is superior defensively.

EDGE: Yankees

*

FIRST BASE: An offensive strength for both teams with the Orioles’ Rafael Palmeiro (.289, 39 homers, 142 RBIs) and the Yankees’ Tino Martinez (.292, 28 homers and 117 RBIs). Martinez may be a shade better defensively and Palmeiro struggled with a .176 average in the division series, but Palmeiro has had a better year.

EDGE: Orioles

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SECOND BASE: The center of controversy and the subject of scorn after his spitting incident, Oriole Roberto Alomar pushed aside all the distractions last week and came up with the game-tying single in the ninth and game-winning homer in the 12th in the decisive division series victory over the Cleveland Indians last Saturday. Yankee Mariano Duncan (.340, 56 RBIs) has been a pleasant surprise, but he’s no Alomar.

EDGE: Orioles

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SHORTSTOP: Oriole Todd Zeile, acquired in a late-August trade with the Phillies, made a nice first impression with five homers and 19 RBIs in 29 games with Baltimore. Yankee Wade Boggs hit only .083 in the division series, and at 38 seems to be wearing down.

EDGE: Even

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THIRD BASE: Hard to compare Oriole Cal Ripken Jr. and Yankee Derek Jeter. Ripken is a big, slow but highly reliable defensive player who hits for power. Jeter is a small, quick and effective defensive player who hits for average and can steal a base. Ripken hit .444 against Cleveland. Jeter hit .412 against Texas and was involved in several big rallies.

EDGE: Orioles

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LEFT FIELD: Lost amid all the big Yankee off-season deals was the January acquisition of Tim Raines, who continues to be a dangerous leadoff hitter and capable defensive player. Oriole B.J. Surhoff (.292, 21 homers, 82 RBIs) is suffering from knee and hamstring injuries and may sit out tonight’s opener. If so, Mike Devereaux will probably start in his place.

EDGE: Yankees

*

CENTER FIELD: Brady or Bernie? Bernie or Brady? Oriole Brady Anderson had a phenomenal year with a .297 average, 50 homers and 110 RBIs and is among the best defensive center fielders in the league. Yankee Bernie Williams, “the most improved player in baseball over the past three years,” according to Ranger Manager Johnny Oates, hit .467 with three homers in the Division Series.

EDGE: Even

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RIGHT FIELD: Oriole Bobby “the Butcher” Bonilla is a defensive liability but has provided steady power from the No. 5 spot, hitting .287 with 28 homers and 116 RBIs. Yankee right fielder Paul O’Neill is the better defensive player and hitter but is suffering from a hamstring injury and hit only .133 in the division series.

EDGE: Orioles

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DESIGNATED HITTER: Yankee Cecil Fielder, in his first playoffs after being traded by Detroit on July 31, had several clutch hits in the first round against the Rangers and is always a home run threat. Oriole Eddie Murray’s bat speed has slowed with age, he’s 40, and he’s always a double-play threat.

EDGE: Yankees

*

STARTING PITCHING: The Yankee rotation falls off drastically after Andy Pettitte, David Cone and Jimmy Key, so Manager Joe Torre may go with three starters. The Orioles counter with Scott Erickson, Mike Mussina and David Wells, but impressive rookie Rocky Coppinger may also get a start.

EDGE: Even

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BULLPEN: The Yankees, with incomparable set-up man Mariano Rivera and closer John Wetteland, are 88-1 this season and 218-7 since the start of the 1994 season when leading after eight innings. Jeff Nelson and David Weathers provide superb middle relief. Oriole Randy Myers can be a dominating but inconsistent closer. Set-up men Jesse Orosco and Armando Benitez are unpredictable.

EDGE: Yankees

*

BENCH: There is no drop-off when right-handed hitting Charlie Hayes replaces Boggs at third and Leyritz subs for Girardi behind the plate. Also lurking are Darryl Strawberry and outfielder Ruben Rivera. The Orioles can’t match that depth.

EDGE: Yankees

*

INTANGIBLES: Both Torre, the Yankee manager, and Oriole Davey Johnson have very relaxed demeanors, which seem to have a soothing effect on their teams. Torre takes full advantage of a versatile offense, often setting runners in motion, and Johnson has had to perform daily juggling acts with his bullpen.

EDGE: Even

*

MANAGERS: The Yankees came from behind in all three of their division series victories but the Orioles rallied from 12 games behind in late July to snag a playoff berth, then eliminated Cleveland on Saturday in dramatic fashion. Cone is a noted big-game starter, but so is Wells. Both teams are stocked with veterans who have playoff experience.

EDGE: Yankees

PREDICTION: Yankees in six.

HEAD TO HEAD IN 1996

April 30 at Baltimore: Yankees 13, Orioles 10--Pettitte gives up nine runs in two innings but Yankees come back to win longest nine-inning game (4:21) in major league history.

May 1 at Baltimore: Yankees 11, Orioles 6 (15)--Grand slam by Martinez puts Yankees ahead in 15th. Yankees have season-high 20 hits.

June 27 at New York: Yankees 3, Orioles 2--Rogers out-duels Erickson.

June 28 at New York: Orioles 7, Yankees 4--Palmeiro hits a pair of two-run homers to lead Orioles.

June 29 at New York: Yankees 4, Orioles 3--Pettitte throws seven scoreless innings to beat Mike Mussina.

June 30 at New York: Orioles 9, Yankees 1--Wells’ complete game leads Orioles.

July 11 at Baltimore: Yankees 4, Orioles 2--Jeter’s two-run homer breaks a 2-2 tie in eighth.

July 13 at Baltimore (first game): Yankees 3, Orioles 2--Rogers gives up two runs in 6 2/3 innings and Yankees score two in top of ninth.

July 13 at Baltimore (second game): Yankees 7, Orioles 5--Strawberry’s two homers and four RBIs give New York a doubleheader sweep.

July 14 at Baltimore: Yankees 4, Orioles 1--Wetteland saves fourth game of series, finishing Yankee sweep to push East Division lead to 10 games.

Sept. 18 at New York: Yankees 3, Orioles 2 (10)--Williams’ RBI single ties it in ninth, Rivera’s RBI single wins it in 10th.

Sept. 19 at New York (first game): Yankees 9, Orioles 3--Boggs has four hits and Duncan adds three hits and three RBIs for Yankees.

Sept. 19 at New York (second game): Orioles 10, Yankees 9--Orioles score nine runs from fifth through eighth innings to avoid doubleheader sweep.

Yankees win season series, 10-3.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

AMERICAN LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

All games on Channel 4

Today--Baltimore (Erickson 13-12) at

New York (Pettitte, 21-8), 5 p.m.

Wednesday--Baltimore (Mussina 19-11) at New York (Cone 7-2), 1 p.m.

Friday--New York (Key 12-11) at Baltimore (Wells 11-14), 5 p.m.

Saturday--New York at Baltimore, 4:30 p.m.

*Sunday--New York at Baltimore, 1 p.m.

*Oct. 15--Baltimore at New York, 5 p.m.

*Oct. 16--Baltimore at New York, 5 p.m.

* If necessary

NATIONAL LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

All games on Channel 11

Wednesday--St. Louis (Andy Benes 18-10) at Atlanta (Smoltz 24-8), 5 p.m.

Thursday--St. Louis (Stottlemyre 14-11) at Atlanta (15-11), 5 p.m.

Saturday--Atlanta (Glavine 15-10) at St. Louis (Osborne 13-9), 1:15 p.m.

Sunday--Atlanta at St. Louis, 4:30 p.m.

*Monday--Atlanta at St. Louis, 4 p.m.

*Oct. 16--St. Louis at Atlanta, 1:15 p.m.

*Thursday--St. Louis at Atlanta, 5 p.m.

* If necessary