The rest of the schedule and more from Hays

The Orioles will hit the road later today for a 10-day trip after finishing their series against the Yankees.

It's the last three-city excursion of the season. Three games in Cleveland, three in Toronto and four in the Bronx. Come back under .500 and perhaps fall out of the wild card chase.

The Orioles were a game behind in the morning for the second wild card after the Angels passed the Twins. The Angels lost in Oakland yesterday and the Twins won in St. Petersburg. It's like the old shell game, or the crab game on the video board at Camden Yards.

The final homestand pits the Orioles against the Red Sox and Rays for a total of seven games. They play two in Pittsburgh and three in St. Petersburg, with an off-day in between, and either prepare for the playoffs or the offseason and all the uncertainties that are attached to it.

The Yankees didn't seem to have any issues with yesterday's postponement due to inclement weather.

"I don't think you want to stick around and maybe start a game at midnight and then not knowing exactly when it's going to stop raining," manager Joe Girardi told reporters. "It's probably best for all. It's supposed to be sunny (today). That'll be the first time we've seen the sun in a while."

When will Orioles fans see outfielder Austin Hays?

Well, he's going to take batting practice and shag fly balls. He may sign a few autographs. But he won't be in today's lineup because the Yankees are sending right-hander Sonny Gray to the mound.

Gray was the scheduled starter yesterday before the postponement. Hays wasn't in the lineup and manager Buck Showalter doesn't figure to make any changes besides adding Mike Wright to the bullpen.

The Orioles seemed to face a left-hander every night, but that stretch may be cooling. They've got Gray today and Indians right-handers Mike Clevinger on Friday, Josh Tomlin on Saturday and Trevor Bauer on Sunday.

Hays could be in right field against the next lefty, with Trey Mancini in left field, Mark Trumbo serving as designated hitter and Joey Rickard coming off the bench. Rickard has more speed than Hays and he's 2-for-14 this month and 3-for-21 since Aug. 12.

Showalter likes a bench with Rickard and J.J. Hardy, the latter perhaps coming off the disabled list on Friday.

Hays appeared in seven Grapefruit League games this spring, going 1-for-7 with an RBI. He had played in 38 games with short-season Single-A Aberdeen. To be in a major league clubhouse in early September is such a leap that it should be an Olympic event.

Get Hays on the medal stand.

"It's crazy to think," he said, "but I'd say it was a possibility."

The pressure of moving up from Single-A Frederick to Double-A Bowie didn't break Hays. Neither did his climb up the prospect rankings and the scrutiny that comes from his draft stature and the Orioles thirst for homegrown talent.

"I tried not to change the way I played the game or the way I thought about the game or what I was trying to do on a daily basis," he said. "I came in, put my work in, stayed with my routines and took it day by day and kept having fun playing the games."

The veterans are having fun with Hays. They've heard the buzz surrounding him and are making certain that the attention doesn't go to his head, but also that he feels like part of the group instead of an outsider. Bring your bats and thick skin. It's part of the gig.

Catcher Caleb Joseph announced yesterday in a loud voice that Hays was needed by the media, which inched closer as he returned to the clubhouse. It got a little crowded by the kid's locker, much to Joseph's amusement.

"It's awesome," Hays said. "Great atmosphere in the clubhouse. And the game (Tuesday) was a great first game to watch. To be around these guys is a lot of fun."

Hays' debut, whenever it comes, likely will bring its share of nerves, but he'll shake them off as he always does.

"I'll definitely say there will be," he said. "There will be some adrenaline, but that's part of the game. That's what you want."