Orioles vs. Yankees Tuesday MLB injury report, odds: Luis Gil replaces Gerrit Cole (COVID) on mound, Gio Urshela on injured list

The New York Yankees were riding high into Monday's game against the Baltimore Orioles, having swept the Marlins over the weekend and unbeaten since the Trade Deadline. The Yanks were around -300 favorites Monday but were stunned 7-1, losing a chance to gain ground on the Rays and Red Sox in the AL East and in the wild-card chase. The Bombers got bad news during/after the game, too, in that ace and AL Cy Young betting favorite Gerrit Cole tested positive for COVID and third baseman Gio Urshela landed on the injured list. In a surprise, Luis Gil will start on the mound in place of Cole vs. the Orioles tonight, and New York is another sizable favorite at Caesars Sportsbook.

Sportsbooks have temporarily taken AL Cy Young odds off the board because of Cole's diagnosis, but he had been the favorite despite losing back-to-back starts and allowing 11 runs over 11.1 innings in them to fall to 10-6 with a 3.11 ERA. The Yanks learned of Cole's positive COVID test in the second inning Monday, but he's apparently the only positive as of now -- obviously something to double-check when NYY posts its lineup, though. Last month, Aaron Judge and Urshela were among six Yankees players who tested positive for coronavirus.

Manager Aaron Boone had said that Nestor Cortes Jr. (1.93 ERA) was likely to start in place of Cole against the Orioles, but that will not be the case. Maybe Cortes does pitch tonight at some point, but it will be Gil starting. It will be his MLB debut and Gil is considered a top prospect -- ranked No. 4 in the organization by Baseball America. Between Double-A Somerset and Triple-A this year, Gil had a 4.13 ERA in 15 starts. The Yankees acquired Gil from the Twins in March 2018 in exchange for outfielder Jake Cave.

As for Urshela, he's headed to the injured list with a Grade 1 or Grade 2 hamstring strain. He had missed the past four games – after returning not long prior from the COVID list – with the problem. Urshela is hitting .274 with 11 homers and 41 RBIs on the season. The Yanks can play Tyler Wade, Rougned Odor or DJ LeMahieu at third while Urshela is out. Odor got the call Monday and was 0-for-4.

One bright spot in Monday's loss was trade acquisition Anthony Rizzo becoming just the fifth Yankee ever to collect an RBI in each of his first four games with the club. Five is the team record set by Don Slaught in 1988.

Baltimore starts rookie left-hander Alexander Wells (1-1, 5.28) on the mound. It's his fifth big-league appearance and third start. Wells has not faced the Yankees. The Orioles are a surprising 10-6 since the All-Star Break and are 10-10 in their past 20 road games after losing a club-record 20 straight road games.

How should you bet on every MLB game? And which teams could cost you your bankroll? Join SportsLine now to see who wins every MLB game, all from the model that simulates every at-bat 10,000 times.