New York Yankees vs. Seattle Mariners Preview and Predictions 09-09-2018 in MLB
MLB Previews 9th September 2018 by Gracenote
The New York Yankees have a firm grip on the American League's first wild card but still have their sights set on the AL East crown. New York continues its quest for a division title Sunday, when it attempts to complete a three-game sweep against the host Seattle Mariners.
The Yankees are 11 games ahead of Seattle for a wild card and 3 1/2 in front of Oakland for the top spot after posting a 4-2 victory Saturday to improve to 3-2 on their nine-game road trip. Austin Romine snapped a tie in the seventh inning with his 10th homer of the season, extending his career high and making him the 10th Yankee to reach double digits, and Andrew McCutchen went deep in his second straight contest as New York pulled within 7 1/2 games of first-place Boston in the AL East. New York has six games remaining against the Red Sox over the final three weeks and end the campaign with a three-game set in Boston. The Mariners managed only four hits Saturday, including a solo homer by Mike Zunino, as they suffered their fourth loss in six contests to fall 7 1/2 games behind the Athletics for the second wild card.
TV: 4:10 p.m. ET, YES (New York), ROOT Northwest (Seattle)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Yankees LH CC Sabathia (7-6, 3.54 ERA) vs. Mariners RH Erasmo Ramirez (2-3, 5.56)
Sabathia has lost back-to-back starts, including an outing at Oakland on Monday in which he surrendered five runs and seven hits over 3 1/3 innings. The 38-year-old Californian worked six frames while registering a quality start in each of his previous three turns but notched only one victory in that span - his lone win in his last nine outings. Sabathia has made 28 career starts against Seattle, going 14-6 with two complete games, one shutout and a 2.57 ERA.
Ramirez has pitched well since returning from a shoulder injury that sidelined him for more than three months, allowing fewer than two earned runs in four of his five starts. The 28-year-old Nicaraguan is coming off a victory over Baltimore on Monday in which he gave up one run and two hits over 5 1/3 innings. Ramirez is 2-2 with a 3.66 ERA in 17 career appearances against New York, including four starts.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Yankees have hit 232 home runs this season and need 33 over their final 20 games to break the major-league record set by the 1997 Mariners.
2. Seattle RHP Felix Hernandez's troubled season continued Saturday as he exited the contest in the fifth inning with tightness in his right hamstring.
3. New York OF Aaron Judge (wrist) took batting practice in an indoor cage Saturday for the first time since being injured July 26.
PREDICTION: Mariners 4, Yankees 3
MLB Previews 9th September 2018 by Gracenote
The New York Yankees have a firm grip on the American League's first wild card but still have their sights set on the AL East crown. New York continues its quest for a division title Sunday, when it attempts to complete a three-game sweep against the host Seattle Mariners.
The Yankees are 11 games ahead of Seattle for a wild card and 3 1/2 in front of Oakland for the top spot after posting a 4-2 victory Saturday to improve to 3-2 on their nine-game road trip. Austin Romine snapped a tie in the seventh inning with his 10th homer of the season, extending his career high and making him the 10th Yankee to reach double digits, and Andrew McCutchen went deep in his second straight contest as New York pulled within 7 1/2 games of first-place Boston in the AL East. New York has six games remaining against the Red Sox over the final three weeks and end the campaign with a three-game set in Boston. The Mariners managed only four hits Saturday, including a solo homer by Mike Zunino, as they suffered their fourth loss in six contests to fall 7 1/2 games behind the Athletics for the second wild card.
TV: 4:10 p.m. ET, YES (New York), ROOT Northwest (Seattle)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Yankees LH CC Sabathia (7-6, 3.54 ERA) vs. Mariners RH Erasmo Ramirez (2-3, 5.56)
Sabathia has lost back-to-back starts, including an outing at Oakland on Monday in which he surrendered five runs and seven hits over 3 1/3 innings. The 38-year-old Californian worked six frames while registering a quality start in each of his previous three turns but notched only one victory in that span - his lone win in his last nine outings. Sabathia has made 28 career starts against Seattle, going 14-6 with two complete games, one shutout and a 2.57 ERA.
Ramirez has pitched well since returning from a shoulder injury that sidelined him for more than three months, allowing fewer than two earned runs in four of his five starts. The 28-year-old Nicaraguan is coming off a victory over Baltimore on Monday in which he gave up one run and two hits over 5 1/3 innings. Ramirez is 2-2 with a 3.66 ERA in 17 career appearances against New York, including four starts.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Yankees have hit 232 home runs this season and need 33 over their final 20 games to break the major-league record set by the 1997 Mariners.
2. Seattle RHP Felix Hernandez's troubled season continued Saturday as he exited the contest in the fifth inning with tightness in his right hamstring.
3. New York OF Aaron Judge (wrist) took batting practice in an indoor cage Saturday for the first time since being injured July 26.
PREDICTION: Mariners 4, Yankees 3
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