Mariners Game #91 Preview: 7/8, SEA at NYY

Game 1 in the Bronx

The Mariners get a chance against a team they trail.

If the Mariners beat the Yankees tonight, they’ll both be tied in standings, either with the Rays for the first Wild Card position or just behind. There are at least four teams vying for the three Wild Card spots in the American League, making this series relatively important towards the Mariners playoff odds. The Yankees took two of three from the Mariners in a close series in early May.

This is also a chance for Cal Raleigh to gain some ground on Aaron Judge in the (f)WAR for AL MVP. Raleigh closed the gap a bit with a scorching June that earned him AL Player of the Month, while Judge “slumped” by his standards. But Judge has gotten hot again with three home runs in six games in July. Raleigh still leads Judge by two home runs.

Lineups

Logan Gilbert gets the ball for the Mariners. As Zach Mason noted for the site this morning, Gilbert not only leads MLB in swinging-strike rate but is posting one of the great whiff seasons ever. He’s even picked up a few whiffs on his sinker this year, (perhaps) to the displeasure of Cal Raleigh.

Gilbert will face Yankees top pitching prospect Will Warren. As Jake Mailhot pointed out in the series preview, don’t let Warren’s 5.06 ERA fool you — his peripherals have been quite good this year, and he’s been one of the “unluckiest” pitchers in MLB.

News

• Taylor Saucedo joined the Mariners on Tuesday in New York. He has not been activated but could be at some point with Carlos Vargas potentially set to go on the paternity list.

Game Information:

Game time: 4:05 PT

TV: ROOT Sports NW with Aaron Goldsmith and Angie Mentink, with Brad Adam reporting

Radio: 710 AM Seattle Sports, with Rick Rizzs and Gary Hill Jr.

Mariners Moments of the Millennium

• 2022: Eugenio Suárez hits a walk-off, three-run home run to beat the Blue Jays 5-3.
• 2018: Ryon Healy hits a go-ahead, three-run home run into the upper deck as the Mariners beat the Rockies 6-4.
• 2012: Félix Hernández pitches into the eighth, strikes out six, and allows just one run. The Mariners lose 2-1 to the Athletics on a walk-off double by Josh Reddick in the 13th inning.
• 2011: Mike Trout makes his MLB debut and goes 0-for-3. The Mariners lose to the Angels 4-3 on a walk-off home run from Mark Trumbo.
• 2008: Carlos Silva and Justin Duchscherer each throw a complete game — Duchscherer’s is a shutout and Silva’s is not. The Mariners lose 2-0.
• 2004: Ichiro picks up two hits, including a double, to give him 116 hits through 83 games. The Mariners lose 8-6 to the Blue Jays on a walk-off, three-run home run from Carlos Delgado.
• 2001: Dan Wilson homers and the Mariners pick up 13 hits in a 9-2 route of the Dodgers in Los Angeles. The Mariners improve to 63-24.