Aaron Judge looked to the not-too-distant future as he spoke with Adley Rutschman at the plate during Tuesday's game.
“Maybe we'll see you later,” Judge told the Orioles catcher.
If 13 regular season games weren't enough, the Orioles enter Thursday's finale with an 8-4 record, and the Yankees could be in the postseason against AL East foes, depending on how things go on the final day and the wild card situation. We may have to face each other again. Series playout.
If the season had ended after Wednesday, the Yankees would have received a bye in the ALDS and would have faced the winner of the Orioles-Royals wild-card series.
Neither team has been particularly good lately, but the Orioles have reminded us of what they're capable of in the first two games of this series (in addition to having most of the Yankees' jersey numbers this season). .
“This is not a reminder. No one needed to remind me or any of us that this is a dangerous club,” manager Aaron Boone said.
The Orioles had been in a close battle with the Yankees for first place in the American League East for most of the year, until Boone's club found some leeway in recent weeks.
But the Orioles opened Thursday by outscoring the Yankees, 61-46, winning three of four series against the Yankees.
The Orioles have been devastated by injuries to their rotation this year, and manager Brandon Hyde announced Wednesday that Grayson Rodriguez (who is currently rehabbing in hopes of returning to the playoffs) will not pitch again in 2024.
But in a short series, Corbin Burnes and Zach Eflin could be joined by Dean Kramer, who has held the Yankees to five runs in 16/3 innings this season.
The Orioles' lineup was devastated at one point, but they have recently returned two key hitters in first baseman Ryan Mountcastle and All-Star second baseman Jordan Westberg.
And the team's speed and athleticism on the bases could give the Yankees trouble.
“They have a really good team and we have a few more games to go. Hopefully we can play against them,” Mountcastle told reporters on Wednesday night. “I believe in the guys in this clubhouse and what we can do.”
