Yankees @ Orioles Preview: Fighting for a Wild Card Spot

Both the New York Yankees and the Baltimore Orioles are on the cusp of the playoffs.

Currently the Orioles sit in a better position than the Yankees, only 1.5 wins away from taking the Tampa Bay Ray‘s current spot as the second AL Wild Card team.  The Rays are behind the Texas Rangers who have a firm three-game grasp on the No.1 Wild Card Spot being up three games.  However, you cannot count the Yankees out yet.

On Tuesday, the Yanks were able to pull off a comeback victory against Baltimore, which puts them only two games behind the Rays.  New York rallied for four runs in the eighth inning to come from behind to win, 7-5.  It was the  second game of a four-game set with the Orioles.  The series is currently split 1-1.

The series is made all the more interesting by the fact that both teams are playing for playoff hopes.  Both teams are trying to take the Rays Wild Card spot, the Cleveland Indians are also in the mix, in a AL Wild Card race that looks like it may come down to the final games.

The O’s will be sending Scott Feldman to the mound.  Feldman pitched a whole game in his last outing, shutting out the Chicago White Sox in a 4-0 Baltimore win.  He allowed only five hits, and it marked the first time an O’s pitcher has had a complete game this season.  Overall, Feldman’s ERA is at a 3.63.

The Yankees will be countering with Andy Pettitte.  His last outing was against the Boston Red Sox.  He pitched a decent six innings, giving up three runs on five hits.  However, the bullpen failed him and it was a Yanks loss.  Pettitte has had five consecutive quality starts, so expect him to perform at a similar level today, in such a high-stakes game.

Today’s game will come on the anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.  All MLB home teams will commemorate the anniversary with pre-game tributes and all ball players and  personnel will wear an American flag patch on their caps.

The Orioles are the favorites to win this one with a -135 moneyline at Bovada compared to the Yanks moneyline set at +115.  The games starts at 7:05 p.m. ET.