Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the MLB regular season match.
With a hard-fought 2:1 win in extra innings last night, the New York Yankees have secured their spot in the playoffs. This is a significant achievement for the Yankees, considering their season ended in September last year.
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners will be looking to avoid a sweep in their home series. The Mariners are three wins away from the wild-card spot, and they have upcoming games against the bottom-placed Oakland Athletics and a direct clash with the division leader, the Houston Astros, where they can also contend for the top position. Therefore, every match is crucial for the hosts. Moreover, the last time the Yankees pitcher Clarke Schmidt faced the Mariners, he secured a confident victory (6:3).
New York Yankees
Since then, Clarke Schmidt spent three months on the injured list due to a back injury and has now returned to action. The upcoming start will be just his third since recovering. Overall, we shouldn't expect the Yankees to be desperate to complete a sweep. Their primary goal for the season was achieved in the previous game, which took a lot of effort and required the use of five pitchers. They also have a five-win lead over the Baltimore Orioles in the division standings.
Seattle Mariners vs New York Yankees Prediction
In 152 regular-season games, the Seattle Mariners have only been swept at home once. As in the previous game, the chances are roughly 50-50, but this time, the motivation factor is crucial — the hosts need to win more.
