masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgNEW YORK – Bud Norris takes the mound this afternoon at Yankee Stadium unsure of his exact placement in the Division Series rotation.

Or maybe he’s been told and manager Buck Showalter has sworn everyone to secrecy.

Chris Tillman is starting Game 1. Wei-Yin Chen will be announced at some point as the Game 2 starter.

Showalter will use four starters in the Division Series unless there’s a sweep. We’re just waiting for confirmation on the order.

Norris might warrant the Game 1 start if…NEW YORK – Bud Norris takes the mound this afternoon at Yankee Stadium unsure of his exact placement in the Division Series rotation.

Or maybe he’s been told and manager Buck Showalter has sworn everyone to secrecy.

Chris Tillman is starting Game 1. Wei-Yin Chen will be announced at some point as the Game 2 starter.

Showalter will use four starters in the Division Series unless there’s a sweep. We’re just waiting for confirmation on the order.

norris-pitching-front-gray-sidebar.jpgNorris might warrant the Game 1 start if the Orioles were playing a team from the American League East. He’s 8-1 with a 2.72 ERA in 13 starts against division opponents this season, and the Orioles are 12-1 in those games.

Norris is 3-0 with a 2.12 ERA in three career starts against the Yankees, all of them in 2014. He’s allowed four earned runs in 17 innings.

Norris got the win in his only start in the Bronx on June 21 when he gave up one earned run in five innings. He left the game with a groin injury.

Chase Headley is 5-for-14 (.357) with a home run against Norris, and Stephen Drew is 6-for-18 (.333) with two doubles and a triple.

Derek Jeter, in his next-to-last game at Yankee Stadium, is 1-for-8 with a double.

The forecast is calling for a 90 percent chance of rain on Thursday. Wonder how long that delay’s going to last?

The stats say Shane Greene will make his third start against the Orioles this season. I swear, it seems like more to me.

Greene has allowed two runs, walked three and struck out 18 in 12 2/3 innings against the Orioles.

Nick Markakis is 3-for-6 against Greene. Steve Pearce is 3-for-5 with a double and home run, but he’s expected to only take batting practice today. Showalter indicated that Pearce would return to the lineup on Thursday.

Kevin Gausman threw a bullpen session yesterday and said his right middle finger was fine. The blister isn’t an issue and he expects to start Thursday night.

Nelson Cruz is batting .360 (31-for-86) this month.

Cruz sizzling at the plate, Markakis healthy again, Pearce close to returning… As Kelly Johnson said, it’s go time.