The New York Yankees face the Boston Red Sox on Friday. The game starts at 7:10 p.m. ET. Watch the live stream HERE.
New York (79-68) continues its hunt for the AL's second wild-card spot after winning three straight in Baltimore. Trailing one game behind Tampa Bay for the second spot, New York can improve its standings with a win over Boston.
"It's important," Yankees manager Joe Girardi told Associated Press reporters. "We need to continue to win and we need to continue to take series if we want to play in October."
The Yankees may have to continue to win without leadoff hitter Brett Gardner, according to the Associated Press. Gardner left Friday's game early with a strained oblique, and he's scheduled to undergo an MRI - his status is uncertain.
"I've never had an oblique issue before," Gardner told reporters, via the Associated Press. "The best thing to do is just wait until (Friday) and see what the MRI says. That'll paint a much clearer picture."
Hiroki Kuroda is set to take the mound for New York. Kuroda (11-10, 2.99 ERA) is in a five-start winless streak. During his winless streak, he's 0-3 with a 6.52 ERA. In his last start, a no-decision against the Red Sox on Sunday, Kuroda gave up only two runs and five hits - Boston ultimately won, 4-3.
"At this stage of the season, fatigue really doesn't matter," Kuroda told the team website, via AP. "You have to treat it as if this is going to be your last outing."
Boston, meanwhile, sits comfortably at the top of the AL East with an 89-59 record.
John Lackey starts on Friday for Boston. Lackey, 9-12 with a 3.48 ERA, allowed a season-high seven runs and eight hits on Saturday against the Yankees - Boston still managed to win, 13-9.
