Pregame notes on division race, Gentry, Hardy and Asher (O's down 7-3)

The Orioles begin today trailing the Twins by 1 ½ games for the second wild card and the Yankees by 3 ½. They're seven behind the first-place Red Sox, the team that they consider their ultimate target.

They're not conceding the division and home field. And they're not obsessing over the standings.

"We're chasing ourselves. That's what we're chasing," said manager Buck Showalter.

"We know that if you don't get to X-number of wins, it doesn't matter, so regardless of who you're playing, you're trying to work through that. If you spend time looking at the Yankees' schedule, the Twins' schedule, the Angels' schedule, whoever's around there, in three days it could be another team that's won five or six in a row.

"We're trying to catch the Red Sox. September is an eternity, you know? The games inch by little by little. Each day there seems to be another story out of that last day. Can you imagine what college and pro football are like when you've got six or seven days to talk about what that one game meant to everything else. So, you try to stay focused on yourself."

Outfielder Craig Gentry saw a hand specialist yesterday and the Orioles are hoping that he can rejoin the team on Sept. 12 in Toronto. It depends on the results of another examination the previous day.

"They've got an X-ray that you can see when he moves the finger, you can see where the tendon's reattached," Showalter said. "Right now, they wouldn't sign off on him sliding into bases, even if it's feet first with hands behind him, or hands first, because the tendon can get ripped further. So, if it's attached and back by that time, he'll join us in Toronto as a pinch-runner. And who knows what else he might be able to do?"

Another player could be added to the expanded roster on Tuesday.

"Is it possible? Yes," Showalter said. "But it's going to be real hard to do right now, the way we're constructed."

Shortstop J.J. Hardy was scheduled to swing a bat today, and how his elbow reacted could determine the level of urgency.

"I think that's what he's more concerned with than the throwing," Showalter said. "That felt pretty good yesterday."

Showalter thought about using Welington Castillo as the designated hitter today, but Castillo is behind the plate for Dylan Bundy's start.

"I like Joey (Rickard) in right field, especially in a day game," Showalter said. "It's tough out there."

Right-hander Alec Asher will pitch out of the bullpen for Double-A Bowie after being optioned yesterday morning. The Baysox are in the Eastern League playoffs.

Showalter talked about it with Bowie manager Gary Kendall.

"Those five starters, you're trying to keep the integrity of the playoffs there," Showalter said. "He thinks they deserve a chance to start in the playoffs and it also helps their development. Alec's there to stay ready to pitch. He can either come back here or go to Sarasota. And there's some guys there who have pitched enough innings. Alec's got some innings left, so he won't start there, the way I understand it.

"It's one of those things, they grind all year, it should be what they want to do in the playoffs. Put their best foot forward. I think those players and Gary deserve that."

Bowie outfielder DJ Stewart has been chosen as the Orioles' Minor League Player of the Month for August.

Stewart, the 25th overall pick in 2015, batted .340 with nine doubles, six home runs, 20 RBIs and 17 runs scored over 27 games.

Short-season Single-A Aberdeen right-hander Michael Baumann, a third-round pick this year, was chosen as Pitcher of the Month after going 4-0 with a 0.70 ERA in five starts. He allowed two earned runs in 25 2/3 innings.

Single-A Frederick qualified for the Carolina League playoffs, but outfielder Jay Gonzalez will be sidelined after breaking his hamate bone. Gonzalez was batting .273/.380/.354 with 16 doubles, five triples and 21 RBIs in 95 games.

Yankees catcher Gary Sánchez began serving his three-game suspension today following the Aug. 24 brawl with the Tigers, so he'll miss the series.

For the Yankees
Brett Gardner LF
Chase Headley DH
Starlin Castro 2B
Didi Gregorius SS
Aaron Judge RF
Greg Bird 1B
Todd Frazier 3B
Jacoby Ellsbury CF
Austin Romine C

Jordan Montgomery LHP

Update: Tim Beckham hit his third career leadoff home run, all of them in 2017, to give the Orioles a 1-0 lead.

Update II: Chris Davis hit a two-run opposite-field home run in the second to give the Orioles a 3-0 lead.

Update III: Didi Gregorius hit a two-run homer off Dylan Bundy in the fourth inning to reduce the lead to 3-2. Bundy didn't allow a hit through three innings.

Two walks and Jacoby Ellsbury's single tied the game in the fourth. Bundy's at 92 pitches.

Update IV: Starlin Castro hit a two-run homer off Bundy with no outs in the fifth to break a 3-3 tie. Bundy is charged with five runs and five hits in four-plus innings, matching his shortest start of the season. The four walks tied his career high.

Update V: The Yankees got an RBI grounder from Brett Gardner off Miguel Castro and Starlin Castro's RBI single off Richard Rodríguez in a two-run sixth that upped the lead to 7-3.