Seattle @ New York preview
Yankee Stadium
Last Meeting ( Aug 3, 2012 ) Seattle 3, NY Yankees 6
Felix Hernandez certainly left his mark on the New York Yankees in their last meeting. Sure, the former Cy Young Award winner tossed 7 1/3 brilliant innings in a 4-2 win on July 24, but he also fractured the left hand of Alex Rodriguez with a pitch. Hernandez will get another crack at the Yankees on Saturday afternoon, one day after the Seattle Mariners saw their season-high seven-game winning streak come to an end with a 6-3 setback on Friday.
The Yankees are starting to show signs of regaining their form, stringing together two straight wins after dropping nine of their previous 13. Eric Chavez provided the big blow Friday with a two-run homer, but he left the game with right ankle soreness in the eighth inning. Chavez, playing third base in place of the injured Rodriguez, expects to play on Saturday.
TV: 1:05 p.m. ET, ROOT (Seattle), YES (New York)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Mariners RH Felix Hernandez (9-5, 2.79 ERA) vs. Yankees RH Hiroki Kuroda (10-7, 3.28)
Hernandez has won five in a row since his last defeat June 12. The former Cy Young Award winner's last victory came on July 24, when he improved to 7-5 in his career versus the Yankees after scattering four hits and striking out four.
Kuroda is riding a four-game winning streak, but settled for a no-decision in his last trip to the mound. The 37-year-old Japan native yielded two runs on seven hits in eight innings versus Boston. Kuroda improved to 2-1 in his career against Seattle after allowing one run on three hits and striking out nine in a 4-1 on July 23.
WALK-OFFS
1. Former Mariner Ichiro Suzuki has hit safely in all 10 games since he was traded to the Yankees on July 23. Derek Jeter is also riding a seven-game hitting streak.
2. Dustin Ackley and Casper Wells homered in Friday's series opener, but both have just one career hit versus Kuroda. Ackley's one hit, however, left the yard.
3. Mark Teixeira returned from a two-game absence after bruising his wrist and went 1-for-4. The Yankees' first baseman did not report any discomfort after the game.