Baltimore @ New York preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 30, 2013 ) Baltimore 5, NY Yankees 8

The New York Yankees can move past one of the teams ahead of them in the American League wild-card race when they host the Baltimore Orioles on Saturday afternoon in the second contest of their three-game set. With an 8-5 victory in Friday's series opener, New York pulled within one-half game of Baltimore and also forged a tie with Cleveland. All three teams are looking up at the Tampa Bay Rays and Oakland Athletics, which currently hold the two wild-card spots.

The Yankees got two-run homers from Ichiro Suzuki and Alfonso Soriano in Friday's victory, their ninth in the last 10 games at home. New York, which also faces the Chicago White Sox and Boston on its current 10-game homestand, has averaged 6.4 runs during that 9-1 stretch in the Bronx. The Orioles have dropped 10 of 16 overall and six of their last seven on the road.

TV: 1:05 p.m. ET, MLB Network, MASN (Baltimore), YES (New York)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Orioles RH Scott Feldman (11-9, 3.87 ERA) vs. Yankees RH Ivan Nova (7-4, 3.14)

Feldman has won each of his last two starts but has lasted six innings just once in his last five outings. He allowed a run and only three hits but walked four and hit a batter in a victorious five-inning stint against Oakland on Sunday. Feldman is 3-3 with a 4.78 ERA in his career versus New York.

Nova is 6-3 with a 2.47 ERA in 13 appearances (10 starts) since coming off the disabled list May 25, including a complete-game triumph over Baltimore at home on July 5. He is 4-2 with a 4.95 ERA against the Orioles in his career. The 26-year-old allowed two runs over 6 2/3 innings in a no-decision at Tampa Bay his last time out.

WALK-OFFS

1. Yankees SS Derek Jeter was hitless Friday. He remains two hits shy of tying Eddie Collins for ninth place on the all-time list.

2. Orioles DH Danny Valencia is 11-for-18 with two home runs and four doubles in his last five games.

3. The home team has won 10 of the 13 meetings between the AL East rivals this season.

PREDICTION: Yankees 5, Orioles 4