Orioles hope for victory in the Bronx

The Orioles still have six games left in the regular season. The Yankees lead the division by six games.

Even people who stumble over number arithmetic can digest this.

I say there's a chance, but the Orioles are more likely to get the top wild card and host a best-of-three series with no road game in the first round.

The crucial formula in its purest form says that if the Orioles win tonight and the Twins lose to the Marlins or the Royals lose to the Nationals, they're in. They'll have to keep a closer eye on the scoreboard.

We can stop following the Mariners. The Twins are the “first team out” – currently seventh in a six-team field – and suddenly deserve our attention.

The magic number is two, but it's worth as much as Monopoly money. Or the Get Out of Jail Free card I tried once… whatever. That weekend the number was three, and the Orioles could have won. Let's just leave that aside.

In this crazy, extremely tied season, the Tigers have caught up with the waning Royals for the second wild card. The Orioles have played them six times in 10 days and are 2-4. They could face them in the playoffs. This is the best team in baseball that is selling out right before the end, and the Orioles will not be able to avoid Tarik Skubal.

The Orioles haven't won a playoff game since the 2014 Division Series against, you guessed it, the Tigers. Maybe they should invite Delmon Young to throw out the ceremonial first pitch.

(Does a quick Google search and decides they should invite JJ Hardy to score from first base.)

The Tigers started with Max Scherzer, Justin Verlander and David Price and were swept. The Orioles made it to the American League Championship Series against the Royals and were swept.

They lost to the Blue Jays in the 2016 wild-card game in Toronto – Zack Britton warming up, Ubaldo Jiménez pitching, Edwin Encarnacion hitting – and last year the Rangers swept them in the Division Series, snapping an eight-game losing streak.

A win in the Bronx wouldn't be the first time, as I mentioned on Sunday. They did it on October 2, 2016, in the final game of the regular season. Kevin Gausman allowed two runs in 7 1/3 innings and Britton saved with five outs, giving him a 48-48 record. Matt Wieters hit home runs from both sides of the plate.

I could guess ten times who the first batter would be and you would probably lose.

Answer here: right fielder Michael Bourn.

Who was the backup runner for Hyun Soo Kim and played left field? You are a true fan or need an intervention if you remember Drew Stubbs.

The lockers in the visitors' clubhouse were covered with plastic sheeting and a Yankees employee was handing out champagne bottles and opening beer. He must have been the one who got the better of him. In the next three days we will find out if the scene is repeated.

The Orioles have gone 6-4 against the Yankees this season, including 2-1 on the road. They lost the first game in the Bronx 4-2 and won the next two 7-6 and 17-5. Batters got hit. The Yankees were the main culprits for the hitting and complaining. The Orioles didn't get drawn into a war of words.

And then Clay Holmes hit Heston Kjerstad's helmet with a 96.8 mph sinker in a July 12 game at Camden Yards and the benches and bullpen were empty. Manager Brandon Hyde charged at the Yankees team, angry at some comments and gestures from the bench, and was the only one ejected.

“You never try to hit someone that high up in the head,” Holmes said afterward. “I hope Heston is OK. I certainly hope he's OK tomorrow. I tried to throw a front-door sinker and he just cut it off. The move wasn't my normal sinker, I just kind of pulled it.”

“I definitely wasn't trying to hurt him or hit him.”

Given the way Holmes has blown his saves this season, I tend to believe him.

Kjerstad went on the concussion-injured list the next day, was 2-for-18 and received optional treatment, and that was revoked when the Orioles placed him back on the injured list. He is now on the active roster and was 3-for-4 Saturday night.

The Yankees start the series with two right-handers – Clarke Schmidt and Gerrit Cole – as well as left-hander Nestor Cortes. Kjerstad could start twice, but Ryan Mountcastle's possible return to the active roster expands the lineup possibilities with additional options for the designated hitter.

Mountcastle played another rehab game at Triple-A Norfolk on Sunday, ending his season. The Orioles did not announce any signings during the off day.

A spot has to be made for Mountcastle, and that leaves Eloy Jiménez vulnerable during his 1-for-24 September.