O's game blog: Gallardo on the mound in New York series opener

The final regular season series of 2016 is here for the Orioles. They know if they sweep the Yankees this weekend in the Bronx, they will be in the American League wild card game next week. But there are still so many possible scenarios that could play out.

The Orioles (87-72) and Toronto Blue Jays (87-72) begin the weekend tied for the first AL wild card. While the Orioles are playing the Yankees, Toronto will be in Boston. The Detroit Tigers, who are 1 1/2 games back of both Baltimore and Toronto, play in Atlanta. The Seattle Mariners, two games back of the Orioles and Jays, host Oakland this weekend after beating the A's last night.

The Orioles take some momentum to New York. They won the last two games to take their series in Toronto, allowing just seven runs in three-game series. The Orioles are 5-1 their last six games, allowing just 11 runs.

In four games at Rogers Centre in June, the Orioles allowed 30 runs (7.5 per game), going 1-3. In July, the Orioles allowed 17 runs (5.7) in three games, going 1-2. The last three nights they allowed seven runs (2.3), going 2-1. Last night was the Orioles' ninth shutout of the season as Ubaldo Jimenez pitched them past Toronto 4-0. Donnie Hart and Brad Brach completed the three-hitter with eight strikeouts.

The Orioles lead the AL in team ERA in September:
2.97 - Orioles
3.06 - Red Sox
3.30 - Mariners
3.73 - Yankees

Last night, Jimenez pitched a gem at a ballpark where he pitched just 1/3 of an inning in a terrible outing in June. Tonight, Yovani Gallardo (5-8, 5.63 ERA) is on the mound at Yankee Stadium, where he allowed eight runs (seven earned) in 1 1/3 innings on Aug. 26.

Gallardo though is coming off a solid outing Friday against Arizona. Over six innings, he allowed six hits and two runs. In three September starts, he is 1-1 with a 5.65 ERA.

In two starts this year, Gallardo is 0-2 with an ERA of 11.88 versus the Yankees. In five career starts, he is 1-3 with a 7.62 ERA. In three career Yankee Stadium starts, he is 1-2 with an 8.16 ERA.

For the Yankees, right-hander Michael Pineda (6-11, 4.68 ERA) gets the ball tonight. He is pitching well recently, allowing one earned run over 15 innings his past three starts with 23 strikeouts. In five September starts, he is 0-0 but with an ERA of 1.90. New York is 15-16 in his starts this year, 3-2 this month.

In two 2016 starts against the Orioles, Pineda is 1-0 with a 1.80 ERA. He is 4-2 with a 3.73 ERA in 11 career starts against the O's. Over 62 2/3 innings, he has walked 11 and fanned 74 Orioles. Pineda is averaging 10.6 strikeouts per nine innings this year, the most by any Yankees starter ever in a single season.

The Yankees (83-76) were eliminated from playoff contention last night by the Orioles' victory. But New York has won four in a row since losing nine of 11 and just swept three in a row from Boston. New York is 8-2-1 in its last 11 home series. The Yankees are 10-3 in their last 13 home games against AL East teams.

If the Orioles win this series, they will win the season series against the Yankees for the third year in a row. After going 13-6 versus New York in 2014 and 10-9 last season, the teams are tied 8-8 this season. The Orioles are 2-5 this year at Yankee Stadium and 5-13 in that ballpark since Sept. 25, 2014.