Yankees at Orioles
The resurgent Baltimore Orioles have kept their name in the postseason discussion due in large part to their dogged resistance to overcome obstacles. The Orioles clawed their way back from an early five-run deficit and capped the uprising with a walk-off homer to set up Wednesday's rubber match of their three-game series against the visiting New York Yankees.
Manny Machado highlighted the power surge in Tuesday's 7-6 victory, capping his fourth multi-homer performance of the season with a two-run shot in the ninth inning to give Baltimore its 10th win in 13 outings. The 25-year-old, who is batting 15-for-37 with six RBIs and seven runs scored in his last nine contests, is 3-for-9 in his career versus Wednesday starter Sonny Gray. While the Orioles reside one game behind the Los Angeles for the second wild card, the Yankees sit 3 1/2 games back of American League East-leading Boston and 2 1/2 in front of the Angels for the first wild card. Jacoby Ellsbury drove in a run in Monday's 7-4 win and had a two-run single the following night to improve to 8-for-12 with three runs scored during his five-game hitting streak.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, YES (New York), MASN (Baltimore)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Yankees RH Sonny Gray (8-9, 3.36 ERA) vs. Orioles RH Kevin Gausman (10-9, 4.79)
Gray dropped to 2-4 with a 3.16 ERA in six starts since being acquired from Oakland after surrendering three homers over seven innings in Friday's 4-1 setback versus Boston. The 27-year-old struggled to keep the ball in the park as he allowed more than two earned runs for the first time in 12 starts. Gray tied a career high by surrendering three homers versus the Red Sox to put a damper on striking out nine batters for the second straight outing.
Gausman authored his second straight scoreless outing on Friday, scattering five hits and striking out eight in six innings in a no-decision versus Toronto. While the 26-year-old is pitching well of late, he has been throttled by New York this season to the tune of permitting 19 runs on 32 hits in 19 1/3 innings en route to splitting a pair of decisions. Gausman has allowed the Yankees to bat .376 versus him this season, with Aaron Judge going 5-for-11 with two homers against him.
WALK-OFFS
1. New York 2B Starlin Castro is 8-for-14 with a homer, six RBIs and four runs during his three-game hitting streak.
2. Baltimore LF Trey Mancini has two RBIs and two runs scored during his five-game hitting streak.
3. Yankees LF Brett Gardner is 1-for-14 with three strikeouts in his last three contests.