Mariners-Yankees preview

We all know that the Mariners and the Yankees rivalry started in 1995. After the 95 American League Division Series the Mariners and the Yankees were arch enemies, basically they started the East coast West coast rivalry again, but with less bullets flying and no one dying this time. Well, anyways the Mariners will send out in the ultimate 1-2 knockout in MLB, Felix Hernandez and Hisashi Iwakuma. Felix has a terrific record against the Yankees, especially in New York where he currently holds a 5-2 record with 2 complete games with a 2.06 ERA. In all of Felix's 8 starts he's gone at least 6 innings, 5 starts of 7 or more innings, and 4 starts of 8 innings. Felix has shown that he is worth the money the Mariners are paying him for the next 7 years and he is also showing us that he wants more Cy Young awards and is doing his best to get us into the playoffs. 

Felix is also averaging 7 strikeouts a start this year. Ok now how bout I talk about Iwakuma? Iwakuma has been amazing for the Mariners since last year, he started the 2012 year in the bullpen but was able to work his way in the starting role and since then he has done nothing but dominate. In 8 starts this year Iwakuma is 4-1 with 51 strikeouts with a 1.74 ERA. Iwakuma has been nothing but Cy Young material just as much as Felix and I have to say that Felix and Hisashi have to be the most deadly 1-2 pitchers in baseball.

Ok now lets get off the stats and get down to business (with some stats in between). Over the last 6 years the Mariners have a record of 22-35 against the Yankees and only have one .500 record year against them. If the Mariners are going to win this series against the Yankees there are a few things the M's must do. 1) Give their pitchers run support, 2) Hit with runners in scoring position, 3) Starting pitchers have to keep the Yankees in the yard, and 4) Score first and score big. The Mariners the past 5 games are batting .212 with runners in scoring position. Although in this previous series with the Athletics the Mariners batted .272 with runners in scoring position, so they are getting better but lets just hope they keep that momentum going into New York. 

The Yankees have been plagued with injuries this year, with Curtis Granderson, Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, Mark Teixeria, Joba Chamberlain, Michael Pineda, and Kevin Youkilis still out the Yankees have still manage to post a 24-14 record. The Yankees have also manage to bang out 47 homeruns as well, with 10 coming off Robinson Cano's bat, the Mariners pitching have to keep Cano's bat under control in this series. Vernon Wells has also provided some power by hitting 9 and getting his career back on track.

If the Mariners also would like to win not only the series but sweep the Yankees then the M's big bats have to keep up with hitting well. Michael Saunders, Kyle Seager, and Kendrys Morales have been providing plenty of offense to the lineup. Mike Morse's bat has to wake up and he has to hit a few of those homeruns he hit to start off his year. Morse hasn't hit a homerun since the 1st of May, which incidentally is ironic because the day before he hit a homerun as well. With this huge series coming up for the Mariners if they manage to take 2 out of three from the Yankees will keep them 1 game under .500 and if they manage to earn a sweep of the Bronx Bombers they will be a game over .500 and depending on how the Athletics do take over second place. 

Now before I end this blog I will say this like I said in my last blog if Brendan Ryan doesn't pick up his hitting his chances of staying with the Mariners or finding another job might be in jeopardy.