The Orioles (61-65) host the New York Yankees (70-55) at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on Wednesday, having won five of their last ten games while dropping two straight. The Yankees arrive having won six of their last ten, including the series opener Tuesday night.
Baltimore fell 3-1 to New York in that opener, though Shane Baz gave the offense a chance, striking out a career-high 10 batters across 6.1 innings before allowing three earned runs. Coby Mayo provided the lone offensive spark, going 1-for-3 with a solo home run for the club's only run, while Yennier Cano struggled and Josh Walker allowed a two-run go-ahead single out of the bullpen.
The loss dropped Baltimore out of a wild-card spot and back to one game behind the final position, part of a stretch where the Rangers, Twins, Blue Jays, and Guardians all won on the same night.
Help is on the way. After two rehab games into his recovery from a shoulder injury, catcher Samuel Basallo was been recalled to the Orioles and will start at first base, Orioles manager Craig Albernaz said before the game. Jeremiah Jackson was optioned to Triple-A in a corresponding move.
"Everything is trending great for Sammy," Albernaz said on Tuesday. "The way he handled his rehab process was awesome. He did everything as perfect as you can. He attacked it. Sammy's in a great spot right now."
Basallo was hitting .241 with 16 home runs before landing on the injured list with right shoulder inflammation in late July.
Utility player Blaze Alexander, a pleasant surprise of 2026, and closer Félix Bautista aren't far behind. Albernaz said both are expected to begin rehab assignments within the week. Before a July 12 hit-by-pitch broke a bone in his left hand, Alexander was arguably the most productive bat anywhere in Baltimore's lineup, hitting .312 with an .812 OPS while bouncing around six different spots on the field.
"It would be a huge boost," Albernaz said. "You want to make sure the bones heal the right way. He's put a ton of great work in."
Bautista's path back has been longer — a second operation last summer to fix damage in his throwing shoulder, following an earlier Tommy John surgery that wiped out his 2024 season entirely. "The Mountain" is now far enough along to face live hitters in batting practice, though Albernaz declined to frame it as imminent.
"I haven't even thought about him joining us," he said. "It will be a great surprise for him to join us, but having those two big injuries, the arm injuries, it's really tough to come back from."
New York sends right-hander Will Warren to the mound, who carries an 8-6 record and a 4.42 ERA. Chris Bassitt (4-4, 5.11 ERA) takes the ball for Baltimore. A win Wednesday would even the three-game series and give the Orioles a chance to salvage a series split against one of the AL's better teams before Thursday's finale.
Probable Starters
New York Yankees: RHP Will Warren (8-6, 4.42 ERA)
Baltimore Orioles: RHP Chris Bassitt (4-4, 5.11 ERA)
Where to Watch/Listen
First pitch: 6:35 PM ET at Oriole Park at Camden Yards
Weather: 88°F, Clear
TV: MASN
Radio: 98 Rock (97.9 FM) and WBAL NewsRadio (AM 1090 / FM 101.5)