The New York Yankees are set to host the Seattle Mariners for the first game of a three-game series on Tuesday evening. This matchup marks the conclusion of a nine-game homestand for the Yankees.
New York is coming off a series win against the Atlanta Braves, taking two out of three games. The Mariners, however, arrive in the Bronx on a four-game losing skid and will start Bryan Woo (8-8, 4.31 ERA) in hopes of breaking their losing streak. Woo has struggled significantly on the road, posting a 1-8 record with a 6.71 ERA away from Seattle.
The Yankees will counter with Ryan Weathers (5-7, 3.79 ERA). Weathers recently delivered a strong performance against the St. Louis Cardinals, striking out six batters over six innings. He previously faced the Mariners in March, limiting them to one run and four hits while recording seven strikeouts.
The Mariners' offense has shown particular difficulty against left-handed pitching, ranking 29th in Major League Baseball with a .220 batting average and a .648 OPS against them.
Adding a spark for the Yankees has been the recent play of rookie George Lombard Jr. The 21-year-old shortstop has provided energy at the infield position and is batting .294 with two home runs and five hits in 17 plate appearances, extending a four-game hitting streak that ended Sunday.
Given Woo's road struggles and the Mariners' offensive challenges against lefties, Lombard Jr. is projected to find success at the plate. Weathers is expected to hold the Mariners' offense in check early, giving the Yankees an advantage through the first five innings.