Yankees vs. Mariners Preview
SEATTLE, WA (AP) – Seattle Mariners rookie Michael Pineda is on a major roll as he gets ready for what figures to be a huge test.
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He’s thrown 14 consecutive scoreless innings heading into his first start against the New York Yankees on Friday night in the opener of a three-game set at Safeco Field.
Pineda (6-2, 2.16 ERA) has struck out 16 over two straight seven-inning scoreless efforts in victories. He struck out a season-high nine for the third time in his last five outings Saturday and yielded two hits in a 4-0 victory at San Diego.
According to MLB odds and oddsmakers from online sports book SBGGLOBAL.com have made the Mariners -117 money line favorites for Friday’s game against the Yankees. Current MLB Public Betting Information shows that 83% of more than 779 bets for this game have been placed on the Yankees +107.
The 22-year-old right-hander should find it more difficult against the Yankees (27-21), who lead the majors with 75 homers. Pineda has yielded just three homers this season, and leads the AL in strikeouts per nine innings at 9.41.
“I don’t think anybody can really understand what somebody is going to do when it’s their first go around in the big leagues,” manager Eric Wedge said. “We knew he was capable of doing what he is doing right now but you never, ever assume or expect that.”
Seattle (24-25) may be expecting more victories after winning seven of its last eight. The Mariners are built very differently from the Yankees, with a major league-low 27 homers.
Seattle’s combination of strong pitching and timely hitting has given it a chance to contend in the AL West, and the star-studded Yankees are anticipating a difficult series.
“Their pitching is very, very good. I do know that,” manager Joe Girardi told the Yankees’ official website. “I tuned into a game about a week ago, and Justin Smoak had had a pretty good year from what I saw a week ago, and Ichiro (Suzuki) is always going to be Ichiro.”
No team has played fewer road games than New York, which is beginning a nine-game West Coast trip. The Yankees have won five of their last seven on the road.
“Sometimes, it’s good to get out on a trip like this as a group where there are no distractions,” Girardi said. “It’s only your club together and it can be a good thing.”
Andruw Jones had two of New York’s three homers in Wednesday’s 7-3 win over Toronto. The Yankees have won seven of nine overall following a season-worst six-game slide.
New York went 6-4 against Seattle last season, losing three times to Felix Hernandez – Saturday’s starter – and once to Cliff Lee. Robinson Cano batted .282 with 12 RBIs and Mark Teixeira hit .405 in the season series.
Suzuki hit .381 against New York last year, but he’s currently at a career-low .281 and is trying to avoid going hitless for a third straight game for the first time since May 1-3, 2007.
The Mariners superstar is 8 for 18 in his career against A.J. Burnett (5-3, 4.02), who seeks consecutive wins. Burnett limited the Mets to three runs over 6 1-3 innings in Saturday’s 7-3 victory.
The veteran right-hander is 0-5 with a 5.82 ERA in his last 10 road starts. He’s 2-2 with a 3.83 ERA in six outings against Seattle.
The Mariners, opening up a 10-game homestand against AL East foes, are eager to see how they measure up against New York.
“I’m excited for pitching (against) the Yankees,” Pineda said.
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