The surprising AL East leading Yankees look to keep their hold on the division when they open the second half of the season against the struggling Mariners, who enter with a .500 record on the road.
ODDS ANALYSIS
The Mariners opened July with a remarkably consistent level of inconsistency, going 6-6 without winning or losing two games in a row this month. It took three and a half months, but the M’s are finally playing .500 baseball. Unfortunately they were seven games below .500 over the first three months and continue to be a disappointment. Their struggles can be traced to an offense that ranks near the bottom in runs scored, batting average and OPS and their failure to win at home. The M’s are 21-21 on the road and a seven-game trip to start the second half could be a boost.
The Yankees are the surprise team in the AL East holding a 3.5 game lead in the division at the break after taking two of three in Boston last weekend. The Yankees enjoyed a nice trip to the Pacific Northwest in early June sweeping a three-game set from the M’s giving up a total of six runs in the series. The sweep started a seven-game winning streak where Masahiro Tanaka started and won twice. The Yankees won each of Tanaka’s last three starts scoring a total of 22 runs in those games.
PITCHING MATCHUP
Mike Montgomery (4-3, 2.29 ERA) turned in his worst outing of the season last Friday giving up five runs in five innings in a loss to the Angels. Even with that effort the rookie has been outstanding in eight games and tossed back-to-back shutouts against Kansas City and San Diego earlier. After surrendering just one home run in his first six starts, he’s been touched for three over 10.2 innings in his past two turns.
Montgomery allowed just four hits and a run in six innings taking a no-decision against the Yankees on June 2 in his first Major League start.
Masahiro Tanaka (5-3, 3.63 ERA) had a nice effort against the A’s on July 9 allowing two runs (one earned) on just two hits with six strikeouts over 7.2 innings to get his first win since June 9. There were concerns about his elbow ligament after he gave up 14 earned runs over 16 innings of his previous three outings.
Tanaka was brilliant in a 3-1 win at Seattle on June 3, tossing seven innings of three-hit ball with nine strikeouts. He owns a 1.69 ERA with 20 Ks in 16 innings over two lifetime starts with the M’s.
QUOTE TO NOTE
“We’ve taken one step forward and two steps back. We’ve got to get better. We have to start stringing wins together. I’ve given my team a lot of rope. It’s not working. We’ve got to change things.” – Mariners manager Lloyd McClendon
LIVE BETTING or SITUATIONAL BETTING
Once a highly regarded prospect with the Yankees’ organization, Jesus Montero returns to the Bronx with Seattle after the Mariners recalled him from Triple-A Tacoma last week, looking to bolster a disappointing offense. Acquired in a deal that sent Michael Pineda to the Yankees, Montero has been a bust to date, but he impressed the M’s with a new attitude since his team suspension last season. Montero also shed nearly 40 pounds and hit 332 with 15 home runs and 68 RBIs in 84 games with Tacoma before the recall. How much playing he gets in Seattle remains to be seen with manager Lloyd McClendon indicating Montero’s primary role would likely be against left-handers.
PROP TALK
Even more surprising than the Yankees first place standing at the All-Star break is the season veteran Alex Rodriguez is having. Coming up on his 40th birthday and coming off a lost season due to suspension, there was plenty of uncertainty surrounding him. Yet Rodriguez has defied the odds and embraced his new role as the team’s designated hitter, batting .278 with 18 home runs and 51 RBIs through the first half. Rodriguez is enjoying his at-bats in Yankee Stadium where he hits .326 this season with 16 extra base hits and a 1.008 OPS.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
It might be time to give up on the Mariners. With such high expectations at the beginning of the season the M’s just haven’t put it together and their offense is bad. Sure there’s a chance they turn things around but they’ve shown no indication and slugger Nelson Cruz, who supplied most of the first half offense with 21 home runs, has slowed. Yanks starter Masahiro Tanaka had a great outing last time out and has owned the M’s in two career starts. Look for Tanaka to turn in another stellar performance for a Yankees win in the opener.
New York 4, Seattle 1
The MLB lines for this contest will first be released by BookMaker Sportsbook. Since this game can be seen by anyone with a TV, BookMaker will have a multitude of wagering options available for it. Outside of the normal lines, you can gamble on real-time moneylines, player props and inning totals. Live betting is open during every commercial break!
Access live betting lines from your mobile device at BookMaker Sportsbook! You can wager on sporting events as they unfold on television with BookMaker’s live betting platform. Real-time spreads, totals, props and moneyline odds are all available by clicking here so start betting with BookMaker today! The ballgame pitting the Seattle Mariners versus the New York Yankees will commence Friday, July 17, 2015, at 7:05 p.m. ET at Yankee Stadium. You can watch the contest live on the MLB Network.
