Yankees-Orioles Preview
BALTIMORE -- The Baltimore Orioles keep finding ways to remain in the playoff chase.
They recorded shutout victories in the first two contests of this weekend series with the New York Yankees and will try to complete a sweep when the American League East rivals meet on Sunday.
The Orioles (74-61) posted an 8-0 and 2-0 victory over the Yankees (69-65) and moved back to within two games of first-place Toronto and Boston.
But the Blue Jays have dropped the first two games of their series with Tampa Bay, which let the Orioles pull closer. They're also now one game ahead of Detroit in the wild-card race as the Tigers fell on Saturday and three up on Houston, who also lost.
Even though the Orioles have experience problems with consistency on offense and pitching, they've been able to put things together enough times to remain close. They just keep fighting.
"Very quietly these guys have grinded out the things that they're good at," Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. "That's why we've got a chance here in September."
In this series, Dylan Bundy started and threw 5 2/3 shutout innings Friday while Kevin Gausman blanked New York for six frames the following day. The Orioles haven't allowed a run yet in this series.
They'll try to keep rolling on Sunday.
Wade Miley (8-11, 5.43 ERA) makes the start for the Orioles. He's struggled since coming over from the Mariners on July 31 but pitched better in his last few starts, losing 5-1 to the Blue Jays last Monday.
Michael Pineda (6-11, 5.12) will go for the Yankees, and he's also run into troubles this season. The right-hander is winless in his last four starts, going 0-1 with a 4.84 ERA.
The Yankees will get more news in a few days on right-hander Chad Green, who started but left Friday's game with elbow pain. They said he's dealing with a sprained right UCL, a strained flexor tendon and is going to see a doctor Monday.
Manager Joe Girardi said Green probably won't be pitching for a while, and the Yankees will have to decide what to do when his spot comes up Wednesday.
"The next couple of days he'll just undergo treatment," Girardi said. "There could be a number of different scenarios we use Wednesday."
Sunday's game also is going to be the final one for first baseman Mark Teixeira, who comes from nearby Annapolis, Md., and played his high school baseball about 20 minutes from Camden Yards. He's retiring after this season.
Teixeira still gets regularly booed at the stadium but said it does not worry him.
"You know, honestly, when you play a long time, it really doesn't bother you at all," Teixeira said. "I mean, the fact that they still understand that I'm on the field is pretty good considering the season I've had."
Also on Saturday, rookie phenom Gary Sanchez won American League Rookie and Player of the Month honors for August, something no catcher had ever done before.
