(Photo credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images)

The New York Yankees are leaning into their bullpen extensively and seeing mixed results as they attempt to hold onto a playoff spot.

The Yankees hope left-hander Max Fried can give them some significant distance and their offense can produce enough big hits Sunday afternoon when they attempt to secure a series win over the visiting Houston Astros.

New York's starters have not completed six innings since Will Warren on July 30 against the Tampa Bay Rays. New York needed five innings from its relievers on Friday and Devin Williams allowed three runs (two earned) in the 10th inning of a 5-3 loss.

The Yankees used relievers Mark Leiter Jr, Luke Weaver, Camilo Doval and David Bednar for a combined 3 2/3 innings on Saturday.

Before Trent Grisham hit a tiebreaking homer in the eighth inning of Saturday's 5-4 win, Doval committed a throwing error that set up an RBI single by Jose Altuve, and Bednar issued a bases-loaded walk to Christian Walker to tie the game 4-4.

The Yankees had taken a 4-2 lead in the fifth inning on an RBI single by Giancarlo Stanton and a double-play grounder by Ben Rice that scored Cody Bellinger.

New York enters Sunday with two wins in its past eight games and a 4.24 ERA from its relievers this season. Since the All-Star break, the Yankees have seen their relievers produce a 4.87 ERA.

'The pitching staff as a whole protects each other, and then it starts with starting pitching,' Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. 'They have done a pretty good job here (in) this turn of giving us those opportunities to stay in games, to win games. Hopefully, along the way here, we get a handful that gets us deeper into games, that allow the bullpen to set up in a better way day in and day out.'

Fried (12-4, 2.78 ERA) has completed six innings in 15 of 23 starts this season but only once during his past five outings since July 1.

Fried is 1-2 with a 5.85 ERA in 20 innings over his past four starts and allowed at least four runs each time. He allowed four runs on a season high-tying eight hits in five innings during Monday's 10-inning loss at Texas.

The Astros, who are 10-17 over their past 27 games, saw Altuve and Carlos Correa combine for four of their seven hits on Saturday along with a leadoff homer by Jeremy Pena.

Altuve is hitting .340 (33-for-97) over his past 25 games while Correa is 13-for-32 (.406) since being acquired from the Minnesota Twins and also is batting .338 (46-for-136) in his past 37 games.

'One swing away from taking the lead,' Houston manager Joe Espada said. 'I like the fight. Just came up a bit short.

After Hunter Brown and Framber Valdez started the first two games for the Astros, right-hander Jason Alexander (2-1, 5.97) makes his sixth appearance and fifth start for Houston.

Formerly with the Athletics this season, Alexander is coming off his best outing with the Astros when he allowed three hits in six scoreless innings to earn the win in an 8-2 victory at Miami on Monday.

Alexander's only previous career appearance against the Yankees was Sept. 18, 2022, while playing for Milwaukee. He allowed three homers among six hits in 3 2/3 innings during a no-decision.

--Field Level Media