The Yankees have won five in a row, and are just 3-1/2 games out of first place in the AL East, while the Mariners are only 3-1/2 games out of first in the AL West.
Finally, the Yankees will return to their new home in the Bronx after a nine-game road trip to National League ballparks. The return to the AL allows for Hideki Matsui to return to the starting lineup at the DH role.
Luckily for the Yankees, they will not have to face Mariners ace Felix Hernandez. But the Yankees will use their No. 4, 5 and 1 pitchers, so it is not too much of advantage. Here are the matchups:
| Date | Mariners starters | Yankees starters |
| Tuesday | Brandon Morrow (0-3, 5.64) | Joba Chamberlain (4-2, 3.58) |
| Wednesday | Jarrod Washburn (4-5, 3.22) | Andy Pettitte (7-3, 4.38) |
| Thursday | Jason Vargas (3-3, 3.79) | CC Sabathia (7-4, 3.55) |
Two converted relievers will go at it in game one. Chamberlain is further along in the transition than Morrow, and simply has better stuff, but don’t count out Morrow in this one.
Washburn has tossed five quality starts in his last six, while Pettitte is coming off his shortest and worst outing of the season.
In Vargas’ last three starts, he has been awful in two and great in one. Sabathia has been good lately and pitched well against the Mets despite a minor elbow injury.
