Preview: Orioles Vs. Yankees
(AP) -- The odds are good that the Baltimore Orioles will clinch the AL East on this 10-game homestand.
The New York Yankees' dwindling division title hopes could end this weekend, though they come to town on the heels of an improbable victory.
The Orioles have been dominant in winning eight of 11 from the Yankees and could have J.J. Hardy available in Friday's day-night doubleheader to start this four-game set.
Baltimore (86-59) leads second-place Toronto by 10 gameswith a magic number of eight. The Orioles have not clinched a division title at home since 1969.
"If that comes to be the potential for that to happen, that's so far away, if we're fortunate to have that day happen, then we can talk about it," manager Buck Showalter said. "We've got a lot of roads to cross."
His club is 10 1/2 games ahead of third-place New York (75-69), which will be eliminated from AL East contention if it is swept.
The Yankees won 5-4 over Tampa Bay on Thursday in thrilling fashion. Chris Young delivered the game-winning three-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning after New York did not have a hit until Young doubled with one out in the eighth.
Young is 6 for 11 with two homers and seven RBIs in his last three games for the Yankees, who are four games behind Detroit for the AL's second wild card.
"This team is not going to stop playing," manager Joe Girardi said. "We're not going to stop, we're going to keep going at it."
X-rays were negative on the left elbow of Derek Jeter, who was hit by a pitch there in the eighth. New York got a bigger scare in the ninth when Chase Headley was hit on the chin by a 98 mph fastball. His status is uncertain.
Baltimore has outscored New York 60-31 this year. Jonathan Schoop, Adam Jones, Chris Davis and Nelson Cruz have combined for 11 homers and 35 RBIs in the season series.
Showalter believes Hardy could be ready Friday after the shortstop has missed the last five games due to lower back spasms.
Baltimore has won four straight and 13 of 17 after Wednesday's 10-6 win at Boston.
The Orioles are 3-0 against the Yankees in games started by the right-handers they will use Friday - Kevin Gausman (7-7, 3.83 ERA) and Bud Norris (12-8, 3.92).
Gausman will start the opener and he allowed one run in five innings to earn a 3-1 home win over New York on July 13, but he's 0-3 with a 4.24 ERA in his last four outings.
Norris is 2-0 with a 3.60 ERA against the Yankees this year, and has limited Jacoby Ellsbury to one hit in 10 career at-bats. The Orioles have won six of his last seven outings.
New York will also start two right-handers with Brandon McCarthy (6-4, 2.79) followed by Bryan Mitchell (0-0, 0.00).
McCarthy is 2-1 with a 3.71 ERA in six starts against the Orioles, who he last faced in 2012. Cruz is 3 for 19 with no homers against him.
Mitchell has pitched in one big league game, two innings out of the bullpen on Aug. 10, but was primarily a starter in the minors.
New York's Brett Gardner has missed five straight games with lower abdominal pain. Girardi hopes he can return this weekend.
Updated September 12, 2014
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