The New York Yankees face the Baltimore Orioles on Sunday afternoon in the rubber match of a crucial late-season series at Camden Yards. The two teams begin the day tied atop the AL East standings as they race for the division crown. Freddy Garcia will take the mound to face the Yankees against Baltimore's Zach Britton.
Garcia is 7-6 with a 5.09 ERA on the year in 26 appearances, 16 of which have been starts. He struggled in his last outing, a loss to Tampa Bay where he went just 5.1 innings while giving up five runs. Garcia went six innings, allowing three runs on nine hits, in the Yankees' July 30 loss to Baltimore.
[Related: Orioles won't concede ground]
The left-handed Britton is 5-1 with a 4.15 ERA in nine starts this season. He was solid in his last trip to the mound, going seven shutout innings while fanning eight against the Blue Jays. The Yankees roughed Britton up back on Aug. 1, knocking him out after 2.2 innings and seven runs on seven hits.
Winning the division title, as opposed to the Wild Card, is especially important in 2012. The AL East winner automatically moves on to the division series, while the Wild Card entry must compete in a one-game playoff at the end of the season.
Game Time, TV Schedule: 1:35 p.m. ET on YES/TBS.
For more on the Yankees, head over to Pinstriped Bible, and continue to check out SB Nation New York.
