The New York Yankees begin their nine-game home stand tonight against the Seattle Mariners on Jackie Robinson Day.
Cano, who spent nine years in New York, is batting only .189 on the season but is tied for the most home runs in the American League with five.
While he’ll receive his share of cheers and jeers on Friday night, both teams will be sporting the jersey of a man who changed baseball forever.
The Yankees and Seattle Mariners will rock the number 42 to honor the day when Jackie Robinson broke Major League Baseball’s color barrier as a member of the Brooklyn Dodgers.
The Yankees are coming off a tough series loss to the Toronto Blue Jays at the Rogers Centre while the Mariners have lost five of the last six games.
It should be an energetic series that marks the start off a nine-game homestand for the Bombers as they’ll play host to the Oakland A’s and Tampa Bay Rays next week following this series.
Pitching Matchups:
Game 1: Luis Severino vs Nathan Karns
Luis Severino will take the hill for his second start of 2016 and the first time against the Mariners.
It will also be his first start of the year at Yankee Stadium, where he is 3-2 with a 3.16 ERA. In his first outing this year, he fell to the Detroit Tigers on April 8 after surrendering three runs on 10 hits in five innings pitched.
Last season, Nathan Karns struck out 28 over 21.2 innings of work while going 1-0 with a 2.91 ERA in four starts against New York.
Game 2: CC Sabathia vs Felix Hernandez
Sabathia and his new cutter impressed everyone in his first outing against the Tigers, as he hurled six innings of three-run ball while striking out three in his first outing, and victory, of 2016.
CC was the first starting pitcher this season to last six innings in a start for the Yankees.
Opposing him in Game 2 is the King himself. In 10 starts in Yankee Stadium, Felix Hernandez holds a 2.04 ERA in 70.2 career innings with 69 strikeouts.
Game 3: Masahiro Tanaka vs Hisashi Iwakuma
The two Japanese natives will square off on Sunday in what should be an entertaining pitching match-up.
Tanaka has yet to make it beyond five innings pitched, but his time has been effective as he owns a 3.38 ERA in 2016. In his career against the Mariners, Tanaka is 3-0 with a 10.6 K/9 ratio in three starts.
Iwakuma has yet to have a win in 2016 (0-1, 4.09 ERA), but he owns a 3.30 ERA in five starts against New York.
Keys To A Series Win:
Get A-Rod and The Offense Going
Through seven games (25-at bats) this season the 40-year-old slugger, Alex Rodriguez, is hitting just .120 with only one home run.
It’s not the time to panic about the designated hitter, but the offense is raising some red flags. With runners in scoring position in the series with Toronto, the Yankees went 3-for-22.
Brett Gardner is batting .174, A-Rod batting .120, and Chase Headly is batting .150.
The Bombers’ three hits last tied a season low and they have scored two runs or fewer three times in 2016.
If the Yankees have any chance of winning not only this series but in terms of making the playoffs, they will need these bats to turn around and support the questionable starting pitching.
Shut Down Robinson Cano
Cano, like he did during his entire tenure in pinstripes, can change a game with one swing of the bat.
The key in this series is to no let the six-time American League All-Star get the big hit this series. In a game last July, Cano ripped two home runs and drove in all four runs a 4-3 Seattle victory over New York.
Distance From Starters (again):
This has been a stress for every game. Through eight games in 2016, not one Yankees starter has made to seven innings of work.
Nathan Eovaldi was the closest last night with his 6.2 innings of work in Toronto, but thus far, the bullpen has had to work it’s tail off to get through games.
The relievers have been spectacular, but it cannot last for the entire year if this team is going to win anything.
Players To Watch
Robinson Cano:
In 12 games against the Yankees as a member of the Mariners, Cano is 12-for-47 with three home runs, including the previously mentioned game in which he went yard twice.
In 407 games at the “new” Yankee Stadium, Cano has a .311/.368/.558 with 81 home runs and 293 RBI. He loves the short porch, and all eyes will be on him during this three games set.
Starlin Castro:
Robbie Cano who?
In his first three games as a Yankee, the 26-year old has a .583/.583/1.250 slash line with two home runs and seven RBI.
Yankee fans have been craving a consistent second baseman ever since Cano left in 2013, and an epic series from Castro would provide an incredible sense of closure.
Brian McCann:
McCann returned to the lineup after sitting out of Wednesday’s 7-2 loss with a bruised left toe.
On the season, the Yankee catcher is 10 for 22 over a season-opening six-game hitting streak including a .455 average and a home run in three games at Yankee Stadium.
Against three righties this weekend, he should get all three starts so watch for “Mac Book Bro” to continue his tear in the Bronx.
Game Times and Predictions:
- Game 1: Friday, 7:05 PM ET, YES/ROOT Sports
- Game 2: Saturday, 1:05 PM ET, YES/MLBN
- Game 3: Sunday, 1:05 PM ET, YES/ROOT Sports
The forecast is calling for highs of 64, 66, and 66 over the weekend with no rain, much better than the first series in the Bronx.
With the warm weather, New York hopes it can heat the bats up enough during this small two-game losing streak to help the team take a shot at its former second baseman.
Roster Move:
The Yankees sent Luis Cessa down to Triple-A and called up Tyler Olsen.
Bold Prediction:
Luis Severino will pitch 7+ innings with 10+ strikeouts tonight and the Yankees take their brooms out on Sunday to complete the sweep.