New York @ Baltimore preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 28, 2013 ) NY Yankees 3, Baltimore 4

The New York Yankees have dropped three straight games and are beginning to fall off the pace in the American League East. They will try to pick things back up when they visit the Baltimore Orioles again on Saturday. The Orioles have won three of their last four and outlasted CC Sabathia to claim the series opener on Friday.

New York has spent the season waiting on its injured stars to return and recently learned that one of them - first baseman Mark Teixeira - will not be back at all. The Yankees have received strong performances from Brett Gardner and Robinson Cano but have gotten inconsistent production from nearly every other spot in the lineup. Nate McLouth delivered the go-ahead home run in the seventh inning to key Friday’s 4-3 triumph for Baltimore, which has moved up to second place in the AL East.

TV: 7:15 p.m. ET, FOX

PITCHING MATCHUP: Yankees RH David Phelps (5-4, 4.01 ERA) vs. Orioles LH Zach Britton (1-2, 5.51)

Phelps is coming off a win over the Tampa Bay Rays in which he allowed two runs on eight hits in 5 2/3 innings. The 26-year-old has yielded only one home run in his last seven appearances and just five on the season. Phelps held Baltimore to one hit in four scoreless innings of relief while striking out six on April 13.

Britton is again trying to establish himself in the majors and has lost two of his three starts, including his last turn against Cleveland on Monday. The left-hander has issued eight walks in 16 1/3 innings but notched a season-high five strikeouts in five frames against the Indians. Britton has made six starts against the Yankees in his career and has not fared well, posting a 1-3 record with a 7.82 ERA.

WALK-OFFS

1. Orioles 3B Manny Machado, who hit his major-league leading 37th double on Friday, has one in three of the last four contests.

2. New York 3B Alex Rodriguez (hip) and SS Derek Jeter (ankle) are both taking at-bats and running the bases in simulated games.

3. Baltimore RHP Tommy Hunter got the save on Friday as manager Buck Showalter decided not to use struggling closer Jim Johnson.

PREDICTION: Orioles 6, Yankees 4