While the Baltimore Orioles celebrated clinching a playoff spot on Tuesday, the New York Yankees were left waiting at least one more day to enjoy securing the American League East title.
After being unable to do so on their first try, the Yankees will attempt to clinch their second division title in three seasons Wednesday night when they host the Orioles, who hold the AL’s top wild-card spot.
The Yankees (92-65) are 12-5 in their past 17 games, and their magic number to clinch the division remained at one after they suffered a 5-3 loss to Baltimore on Tuesday. Aaron Judge hit his major-league-leading 56th homer, but the Yankees could not finish their comeback in the late innings.
Gleyber Torres had three hits, including an RBI double in the seventh. He also was thrown out in a rundown on Juan Soto’s run-scoring single to halt a rally and prevent Judge from getting an at-bat with men on base.
“We lost,” Judge said. “That’s disappointing, but on to the next game. We didn’t get it done today, but we got an opportunity to do it tomorrow.”
Besides hoping to clinch a third division title since manager Aaron Boone took over for Joe Girardi after the 2017 season, New York is attempting to secure the top seed in the American League. The Yankees hold a 1 1/2-game lead over the Cleveland Guardians.
The Orioles (87-70) clinched their second straight playoff berth as Anthony Santander, Ramon Urias and Colton Cowser hit solo homers and six relievers finished the clincher.
After winning 101 games last season, Baltimore holds a four-game lead over the Detroit Tigers and Kansas City Royals for the top wild-card spot. The Orioles are also 5-10 in their past 15 games after hitting three homers for only the third time since Aug. 1.
“Last year, everything went a lot smoother, it felt like, and this year it’s just been a nightly grind,” Baltimore manager Brandon Hyde said. “We’ve had a lot of injuries. We’re pretty young, and the games haven’t been easy, and so to continue to battle, not get down, now we’re in.”
“It’s been tough, you know?” Santander said. “But we stayed positive. We know the type of group that we have, and we’re ready to go out there and compete.”
New York left-hander Nestor Cortes (9-10, 3.77 ERA) is the scheduled starter, but that is up in the air after reports Wednesday that he will undergo an MRI on his pitching elbow. His recent appearances haven’t been impacted by injury; he’s allowed one run in 15 1/3 innings over his past three appearances.
Cortes is 5-1 with a 2.20 ERA in 11 career appearances (nine starts) against the Orioles and pitched six scoreless against them June 18 in New York.
If he can’t go, reportedly under consideration to get the start Wednesday are starter-turned-reliever Marcus Stroman (10-8, 4.04 ERA) or Cody Poteet (3-0, 2.14). Poteet currently is at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre after his recent activation from the 60-day injured list with a triceps ailment.
Stroman is 5-5 with a 3.21 ERA and one save in 14 career appearances (13 starts) against Baltimore. Poteet has never faced the Orioles.
Baltimore right-hander Zach Eflin (10-9, 3.53 ERA) will try to stop a three-start winless streak that comes on the heels of a four-game winning streak. The Orioles have four runs in his past three starts, and Elfin is 0-2 with a 2.95 ERA in that span.
Eflin allowed five runs in 12 innings in consecutive starts against the Yankees for the Tampa Bay Rays, including July 19 when he allowed three hits to Soto, who is 17-for-34 lifetime against him.
Eflin is 3-3 with a 2.11 ERA in eight career starts against the Yankees.
