The Baltimore Orioles are just about a lock to win the American League East while the New York Yankees are falling fast in the other direction. There is a chance the Yankees could officially be out of the title race this weekend as they face off against the AL East leaders. It seems like an improbable task, but New York will kick things off looking to get a win on Friday.
Baltimore loves playing the Yankees. The team has won their last eight of 11 games against their division rivals as they lead Toronto by 10 games in the standings. Baltimore has not won their division since 1969 as their magic number is eight entering the weekend series against New York.
New York is coming off a win against the Tampa Bay Rays but injuries are not working in their favor at the moment which could hurt any chance they have of making the postseason with the odds already stacked against them. Chris Young once again came up big on Thursday, getting a game-winning three-run home run in the bottom of the ninth. Young is 6 for 11 with two home runs and seven RBIs in his last three games. But New York is four games behind Detroit for the wild card spot so he needs to keep delivering if they are going to gain ground.
The Yankees will put Brandon McCarthy on the mound to try and cool down Baltimore's bats. The Orioles have outscored the Yankees 60-31 this season as Jonathan Schoop, Adam Jones, Chris Davis and Nelson Cruz have combined to hit 11 home runs and 35 RBIs in the series this year. McCarthy is 201 with a 3.71 ERA in six starts against the American League East team, but has not faced them since 2012.
Baltimore will counter with Kevin Gausman who gave up just one run in five innings against the Yankees in his last start. The Orioles have won four straight including their last 13 of 17. He might not have to face several of the Yankees players. Brett Gardner continues to sit with abdominal pain. Derek Jeter was hit in the elbow. Chase Headley is also uncertain after a hit on the chin.
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