New York @ Baltimore preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 12, 2014 ) NY Yankees 1, Baltimore 2

If the New York Yankees are going to make a real run at a playoff spot in Derek Jeter’s final season, this weekend is going to be key. The Yankees will attempt to gain some ground in the wild card race when they visit the American League East-leading Baltimore Orioles for a day-night doubleheader and the start of a four-game series on Friday. The Orioles are running away with the East in part because they have gone 8-3 against New York this season.

Baltimore’s magic number to clinch the East is eight and they had little trouble pulling off a three-game sweep of the Boston Red Sox this week behind a strong starting rotation. The Orioles’ staff has allowed three or fewer runs in four of the last six games and had yielded two in the first 26 innings at Boston before a brief scare on Wednesday left them with a 10-6 triumph. New York is riding a wave of momentum after scoring five runs in the final two innings on Thursday and stealing a 5-4 walk-off win from Tampa Bay on Chris Young’s three-run homer.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, MLB Network, YES (New York), MASN (Baltimore)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Yankees RH Bryan Mitchell (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. Orioles RH Bud Norris (12-8, 3.92)

Mitchell is set to make his first major-league start after advancing through the top two levels of the minors this season. The 23-year-old made a brief stop at the major-league level last month and worked two scoreless innings of relief against Cleveland. Mitchell went 6-7 with a 4.37 ERA across the two levels of the minors but was stronger once he got to Triple-A, posting a 3.67 ERA in nine games - eight starts.

Norris allowed four runs in three of his last four outings but was bailed out by the offense in two of those turns. The 29-year-old yielded four solo home runs at Tampa Bay on Sunday and was held out of the decision in a game the Orioles went on to win 7-5. Norris allowed three runs and six hits in five innings against the Yankees on Aug. 11 and came out with a win as Baltimore earned an 11-3 triumph.

WALK-OFFS

1. Orioles SS J.J. Hardy, who received a cortisone injection in his sacroiliac joint on Tuesday, is expected back in the lineup on Friday.

2. Yankees SS Derek Jeter is 0-for-11 over his last three games and was hit in the elbow with a pitch on Thursday.

3. New York 3B Chase Headley was hit in the face with a pitch in the ninth inning on Thursday and did not travel with the team to Baltimore but could be available over the weekend.

PREDICTION: Orioles 5, Yankees 2