Series Preview: Yankees @ Mariners

Yankees @ Mariners
Safeco Field
(3 games)

For some reason, the MLB schedule makers (is it a computer?) decided the Yankees needed one more west coast trip right in the middle of September. That trip begins tonight in Seattle, and concludes with a three-game set against the AL West leading Angels. Luckily for the Yankees they've built themselves a nice little cushion so this trip is a little less stressful.

They enter the series with a 7 game lead over Boston in the AL East, and lead the Angels by 6.5 for best overall record. And their magic number to clinch the East is down to ten. Hopefully they can wrap that up by next week's Boston series and then wrap up the best record shortly after.

Seattle has had a pretty decent year, especially coming off the disaster that was the 2008 season. They're currently 76-71, and in 3rd place in the surprisingly strong AL West, 11.5 games behind the Angels. It might be a good time to play them too, because they've lost 7 of their last 11. Although it's never good to face Felix Hernandez and that's what's in store for the Yankees tonight. It will be big to see what kind of performance A.J. Burnett gives them tonight as he faced the electric right-hander. If you like pure stuff, tonight's opener is right up your alley.

The Yanks have won 5 of the 7 games against the Mariners this year.

Pitching Matchups

Game 1: Tonight @ 10:10 p.m. | TV/Radio: YES, WCBS
RHP A.J. Burnett (11-9, 4.33) vs. RHP Felix Hernandez (15-5, 2.52)

Game 2: Tomorrow @ 10:10 p.m. | TV/Radio: YES, WCBS
LHP CC Sabathia (17-7, 3.42) vs. RHP Doug Fister (2-2, 3.53)

Game 3: Sunday @ 4:10 p.m. | TV/Radio: YES, WCBS
RHP Joba Chamberlain (8-5, 4.39) vs. RHP Ian Snell (4-2, 4.86)

Players to Watch

YANKEES: Hideki Matsui - I've heard rumors that Matsui may be heading to Seattle after the season is over. If that turns out to be the case, he's going to miss facing their pitchers. In four games against Seattle this season Matsui is hitting .467/.471/1.200 with 2 doubles, 3 HR, and 8 RBI. This isn't anything new, though, he's always done well against the Mariners. In 50 career games Matsui is hitting .318/.384/.531 with 8 HR and 36 RBI against them.

Quietly Matsui is putting up a very solid season, hitting .280/.370/.516 with 25 HR and 85 RBI. He's also been red hot lately, hitting .329/.394/.570 with 10 HR and 41 RBI in his last 41 games.

Matsui vs. Hernandez: .182/.182/.182 (2-for-11) RBI, 3 K's
Matsui vs. Fister: NR
Matsui vs. Snell: 2-for-3, HR, 3 RBI, BB

MARINERS: Kenji Jojima - Seattle's catcher has had a very good season against Yankees pitching. In four games he's hitting .500/.563/.857 with a HR, 2 doubles, and 2 RBI. In his career against the Yanks, Jojima is a .280/.306/.439 hitter, with 3 HR and 9 RBI in 25 games.

For the season he's batting .255/.302/.407, with 8 HR and 21 RBI in 64 games, but he's been heating up lately, hitting an impressive .370/.438/.704 over his last 11 games.

Jojima vs. Burnett: 0-for-2, RBI
Jojima vs. Sabathia: .455/.455/.545 (5-for-11), with a double and 2 BB.
Jojima vs. Chamberlain: .375/.375/.625 (3-for-8) 2 doubles, 2 K's

Injury Report

YANKEES:
- David Robertson, RP: Will need 10-14 days rest because his shoulder has been tightening up. There is no structural damage and he should be back in time for the playoffs.
- Chien-Ming Wang, SP: 15-day DL is done for the year after arthriscopic surgery on his shoulder. He will likely be out for 12 months.
- Xavier Nady, RF: Done for year, season-ending Tommy John surgery. 10-12 months to recover.

MARINERS:
- Erik Bedard, SP: 60-Day DL with left shoulder inflammation.
- Russell Branyan, 1B: 15-Day DL with a herniated disc in his lower back.
- Endy Chávez, OF: 60-Day DL with a torn right ACL - out for season.
- Ryan Feierabend, SP/RP: 60-Day DL after having left elbow surgery - out for season.
- César Jiménez, RP: 60-Day DL with left biceps tendinitis.
- Sean White, RP: 60-Day DL with right shoulder tendinitis.
- Jack Wilson, SS: His season is likely over after bruising his right heel.