(Photo credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images)

As the New York Yankees try to persist in the crowded American League wild-card race, they would love to see pitcher Max Fried regain his form from earlier in the season.

Fried (12-5, 2.94 ERA) allowed eight runs on 16 hits in 10 innings in his past two starts, both New York losses. On Saturday night, he will start as the Yankees visit the St. Louis Cardinals in the middle game of a three-game series.

The Yankees won 4-3 on Friday for their third victory in four games. New York is in the third AL wild-card slot, 1 1/2 games ahead of the Cleveland Guardians.

Fried had a 1.92 ERA in his first 17 starts this season, then allowed 29 runs (24 earned) in his past 36 innings over seven starts.

'I do think his stuff is good,' Yankees manager Aaron Boone said after Fried's most recent appearance, a 7-1 loss to the Houston Astros on Sunday. 'He is throwing hard. His cutter looks good to me. The breaks on his pitches are good. ... It comes down to command throughout. I feel like he has been a little bit scattered throughout.'

Fried is 5-0 with a 1.10 ERA in six career appearances against the Cardinals, including five starts.

The Yankees might get former Cardinals first baseman Paul Goldschmidt back in the starting lineup for Saturday's game. Goldschmidt, who is recovering from a mild knee strain, came off the bench as a defensive replacement Friday.

'I knew we were coming here, and I would love to play,' Goldschmidt said. 'But if that wasn't going to be possible, or it was going to be an injury risk, I understand the big picture. I was not going to try to push it any more than I would against anyone else.'

The Cardinals have dropped three consecutive games while losing ground in the National League wild-card race. They are 3 1/2 games out of the third and final wild card.

They will start right-hander Sonny Gray (11-5, 4.06 ERA), who allowed just three runs (two earned) on six hits in 14 innings in his past two starts. He struck out 15 batters and walked only two.

Gray had that success against the Dodgers in Los Angeles and against the Chicago Cubs at home, both 3-2 Cardinals wins. He said the big-game atmosphere against those contenders brought the best out of him.

'I do just think these games are more fun,' Gray said. 'You play the Dodgers in Dodger Stadium, I enjoy and I appreciate the challenge. It's kind of like, 'OK, let's see where I'm at, let's see where I stack up.' I appreciate that challenge.

'It's a Sunday Night Baseball game on national TV against the Cubs, in a rivalry. It's just a little bit more fun. It's another thing of, let's see where I stack up. I've got all my friends watching; I'm not trying to look like an idiot out there.'

The game with the Yankees is another nationally televised contest against a marquee opponent. Gray, who was with the Yankees in 2017-18 seasons, is 2-2 with a 3.38 ERA in seven career starts against them.

Cardinals first baseman Willson Contreras (bruised foot) and utility player Brendan Donovan (left foot soreness, left groin strain) are questionable for Saturday's game after sitting out Friday.

--Field Level Media