Preview: Mariners (41-49) at Yankees (49-40)
Game: 2
Venue: Yankee Stadium
Date: July 18, 2015 1:05 PM EDT
Michael Pineda was admittedly amped up last month when he made his first start against the organization that signed him as a 16-year-old almost a decade ago.
The New York Yankees right-hander will probably have even more juice in his arm Saturday following a long layoff for the All-Star break, though that actually puts him at a disadvantage when he takes on the Seattle Mariners.
Pineda has struggled after getting extended time off, going 1-7 with a 4.23 ERA in 14 starts following six or more days of rest. He's 0-2 with a 6.06 ERA in three such outings in 2015, and this one will come eight days after his third straight quality start.
Pineda (9-5, 3.64 ERA) allowed one run over 6 2-3 innings in a 5-1 win at Boston on July 10, giving him a 1.25 ERA and 24 strikeouts to one walk over his last 21 2-3 innings.
"I'm feeling very strong ... I'm feeling great," Pineda, who tied his career high for wins set in 2011 with Seattle, told MLB's official website.
Manager Joe Girardi opted to start Masahiro Tanaka in Friday night's series opener, which the Yankees (49-40) won 4-3 to extend their run in the series to seven.
"You can match it up the first time (after the break)," Girardi said. "... You don't want to give everyone too many days off because I think they just get out of rhythm."
Pineda was in rhythm on regular rest June 1 in Seattle as he gave up two runs and struck out nine in six-plus innings to outduel Felix Hernandez in a 7-2 victory.
"He kept us off balance, was able to hit his spots and made big pitches when he needed," Mariners catcher Mike Zunino said after striking out in both at-bats against Pineda. "Obviously, you know he's got good stuff."
Hisashi Iwakuma (1-1, 5.22) was on the disabled list with a strained lat muscle when the Yankees swept that three-game series.
He was roughed up in his return July 6 before posting his best performance in five starts this season by allowing three hits in eight innings of a 5-0 win over the Los Angeles Angels last Saturday.
"That's the Iwakuma I know and love," manager Lloyd McClendon said. "It's nice to see him back."
Iwakuma was 6-1 with a 3.06 ERA in nine starts when receiving at least six days' rest in his first three seasons before going 0-1 with a 7.36 mark in two this year.
The right-hander is 1-2 with a 3.33 ERA in four starts against New York.
Alex Rodriguez broke a 3-all tie in the seventh inning Friday with his 19th home run, while Kyle Seager hit a solo homer and a two-run shot for the Mariners (41-49).
Seager went 2 for 3 last month off Pineda, part of a 14-game stretch against the Yankees in which he's batting .382, and he's 6 for 9 with three homers, two triples and a double in Seattle's last two games at Yankee Stadium.
"This ballpark obviously, the Yankees and everything, it's got a lot of history to it, so it's a cool place," Seager said. "I grew up a Yankees fan, so that's always going to be, you know, exciting for me, for sure. It's a good ballpark to hit in."
SERIES AT A GLANCE
GAME 1
Mariners at Yankees
Fri, Jul 17 Final 3 to 4
Boxscores • Recaps
GAME 2
Mariners at Yankees
Sat, Jul 18 - 1:05PM EDT
GAME 3
Mariners at Yankees
Sun, Jul 19 - 1:05PM EDT
Game: 2
Venue: Yankee Stadium
Date: July 18, 2015 1:05 PM EDT
Michael Pineda was admittedly amped up last month when he made his first start against the organization that signed him as a 16-year-old almost a decade ago.
The New York Yankees right-hander will probably have even more juice in his arm Saturday following a long layoff for the All-Star break, though that actually puts him at a disadvantage when he takes on the Seattle Mariners.
Pineda has struggled after getting extended time off, going 1-7 with a 4.23 ERA in 14 starts following six or more days of rest. He's 0-2 with a 6.06 ERA in three such outings in 2015, and this one will come eight days after his third straight quality start.
Pineda (9-5, 3.64 ERA) allowed one run over 6 2-3 innings in a 5-1 win at Boston on July 10, giving him a 1.25 ERA and 24 strikeouts to one walk over his last 21 2-3 innings.
"I'm feeling very strong ... I'm feeling great," Pineda, who tied his career high for wins set in 2011 with Seattle, told MLB's official website.
Manager Joe Girardi opted to start Masahiro Tanaka in Friday night's series opener, which the Yankees (49-40) won 4-3 to extend their run in the series to seven.
"You can match it up the first time (after the break)," Girardi said. "... You don't want to give everyone too many days off because I think they just get out of rhythm."
Pineda was in rhythm on regular rest June 1 in Seattle as he gave up two runs and struck out nine in six-plus innings to outduel Felix Hernandez in a 7-2 victory.
"He kept us off balance, was able to hit his spots and made big pitches when he needed," Mariners catcher Mike Zunino said after striking out in both at-bats against Pineda. "Obviously, you know he's got good stuff."
Hisashi Iwakuma (1-1, 5.22) was on the disabled list with a strained lat muscle when the Yankees swept that three-game series.
He was roughed up in his return July 6 before posting his best performance in five starts this season by allowing three hits in eight innings of a 5-0 win over the Los Angeles Angels last Saturday.
"That's the Iwakuma I know and love," manager Lloyd McClendon said. "It's nice to see him back."
Iwakuma was 6-1 with a 3.06 ERA in nine starts when receiving at least six days' rest in his first three seasons before going 0-1 with a 7.36 mark in two this year.
The right-hander is 1-2 with a 3.33 ERA in four starts against New York.
Alex Rodriguez broke a 3-all tie in the seventh inning Friday with his 19th home run, while Kyle Seager hit a solo homer and a two-run shot for the Mariners (41-49).
Seager went 2 for 3 last month off Pineda, part of a 14-game stretch against the Yankees in which he's batting .382, and he's 6 for 9 with three homers, two triples and a double in Seattle's last two games at Yankee Stadium.
"This ballpark obviously, the Yankees and everything, it's got a lot of history to it, so it's a cool place," Seager said. "I grew up a Yankees fan, so that's always going to be, you know, exciting for me, for sure. It's a good ballpark to hit in."
SERIES AT A GLANCE
GAME 1
Mariners at Yankees
Fri, Jul 17 Final 3 to 4
Boxscores • Recaps
GAME 2
Mariners at Yankees
Sat, Jul 18 - 1:05PM EDT
GAME 3
Mariners at Yankees
Sun, Jul 19 - 1:05PM EDT