Showdown in the Bronx

The Seattle Mariners enter today 2 games out of second place of the American League West and 6 games out of first place in the standings and finally 4 games out of the 2nd spot in the American League Wild Card. Not bad for a team 2 games under .500 huh? Today the Mariners go into New York for a showdown with the Yankees and what a pitching matchup for the first game, the 2007 Cy Young award winner CC Sabathia and the 2010 Cy Young Felix Hernandez. Both pitchers have terrific records against the teams in this series. Felix has a 5-2 record against the Yankees with a 4-1 record at Yankee Stadium with 2 complete game shutouts and he has also posted a 2.06 ERA against the Yankees. Sabathia though has posted a 12-4 record against the Mariners with a 2.46 ERA in 20 starts against the Mariners. So basically its a clash of the pitching titans today, not a bad matchup for the first of a three game series huh?

The Mariners have been one of the hottest teams in their last 15 games going 10-5. The Mariners right now are playing as though their season is on the line and this series will test the 3rd place Mariners in a few ways, 1) It will test their pitching staff to try and hold a power hitting team to few runs, 2) It will test their hitters to get hits off of a tough pitching staff and will need to score early and knockout the starters early as well, and 3) It will basically test the whole team pitching and hitting wise to take the series against a tough first place team. 

The Yankees have been riddled with injuries this year with most of their big bats on the DL but thankfully Vernon Wells has provided power and is getting his career back on track. Nobody knows what will happen in this series but I do know this, the team that scores early and scores enough runs will come out on top. Both teams have the pitching to be great playoff teams this year, but the Mariners hitting must keep improving if they would like a shot at the playoffs this year.

NOTES: Dustin Ackley is out again for the second day in a row and Robert Andino will be playing in his place. Curtis Granderson will be back in the lineup for the Yankees batting cleanup.