Here are five things to watch and predictions as the Yankees and Seattle Marines play a three-game series.
Here are five things to watch and predictions as the Yankees and Mariners play a three-game series in the Bronx starting on Tuesday night...
Preview
Front row seat to the HR race
Aaron Judge has taken the HR-crown the past few years, but he’s facing some tough competition this time around.
Seattle backstop Cal Raleigh is in the midst of a historic season -- lifting a career-high 35 homers through just 88 games.
Judge is not far behind him with his 33 on the year, but what Raleigh is doing is simply incredible.
We aren’t even at the All-Star break yet, and the 28-year-old is just 13 homers away from tying Salvador Perez’s all-time record by a catcher for a full season.
He’s four away from tying Barry Bonds’ record for the first-half.
Raleigh has been on a cold streak -- homering just three times in his last 12 games, but you know he'll be up for this series going head-to-head against Judge.
How’s Jazz’s shoulder?
Jazz Chisholm was out of Sunday’s lineup due to a sore right shoulder.
The newly appointed AL All-Star told reporters it’s nothing to worry about, but he’s been dealing with the issue for about three weeks now.
It’s proven to have no hinderance on him while swinging a bat, but has caused him some issues throwing and in the field.
While he didn’t want to make it an excuse, that could be a cause for Chisholm’s recent struggles defensively.
The 27-year-old likely won’t miss anytime, but this is certainly something to keep an eye on until the Bombers add some help at the hot corner.
Cam Schlittler’s debut?
With Clarke Schmidt expected to undergo season-ending Tommy John surgery, it appears the Yanks may be turning to another one of their young arms for the time being.
Nothing has been made official yet, but Schlittler is expected to receive the call to make his big-league debut for the middle game later this week.
The 24-year-old is coming off a rough outing down in Somerset, but he has otherwise thrown pretty well to this point this season.
Schlittler has a 2.82 ERA while striking out 99 batters over 15 outings between Double-A and Triple-A.
He can touch up to 97 mph on his fastball and has been developing a sweeper.
If he can find some success in his first career outing, perhaps he can stick in the big-leagues for now.
Seattle’s pitching has been lights out
The Mariners’ pitching is why this team can be so dangerous.
They are coming off a historic showing in their weekend sweep of the Pirates.
Seattle’s staff is the first in MLB history to allow no runs, strike out 36+ batters, and issue less than four walks over a three-game span.
It wasn’t just the starters, the bullpen was dominant as well, led by All-Star closer Andres Munoz.
The up-and-down Yankees offense will certainly have their hands full in this one.
Logan Gilbert, Logan Evans, and Bryan Woo are scheduled to take the ball for the M’s.
Cody Bellinger stays red-hot
Bellinger has been on a heater the past few weeks for the Yanks.
The outfielder drove in runs in each of the first two games in this weekend's Subway Series, and then he had two more knocks on Sunday.
The biggest impact came with his glove, though, as he made a tremendous shoestring catch to rob Juan Soto of a hit in the seventh and then unleashed a perfect throw to double up Francisco Lindor at first.
Bellinger now has hits in 17 of his last 20 games.
He's hitting a .303 with a triple, eight doubles, five homers, 15 RBI, and a .849 OPS since the beginning of June.
For the Yanks offense to get rolling again and breakthrough against this sizzling pitching staff, they'll need Bellinger to keep doing his thing.
Predictions
Who will the MVP of the series be?
Aaron Judge
Who else but the Captain, who has tremendous number against two of the three scheduled starters.
Which Yankees pitcher will have the best start?
Will Warren
Warren was knocked around his last time out, but was spectacular in five June starts.
Which Blue Jays player will be a thorn in Yankees' side?
Randy Arozarena
Arozarena has been hot and has 13 homers in his career against the Bombers.
Category: General Sports
