New York @ Seattle preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 7, 2018 ) NY Yankees 4, Seattle 0

Andrew McCutchen is off to a slow start since joining the New York Yankees but is displaying signs of emerging from his slumber as the his new team visits the Seattle Mariners on Saturday for the middle contest of their three-game set. McCutchen is just 2-for-19 in six games since being acquired from San Francisco, but one of those hits was a two-run homer in Friday's series-opening 4-0 win.

McCutchen's third-inning blast was preceded a frame earlier by Gleyber Torres' two-run shot as New York moved within 8 1/2 games of Boston in the American League East while remaining 3 1/2 in front of Oakland for the first wild-card spot. Slumping slugger Giancarlo Stanton fanned three times in four hitless at-bats on Friday and is just 2-for-24 with 13 strikeouts over his last six games. The Mariners managed just three hits in the opener while losing for the seventh time in 11 contests as they fell 6 1/2 games behind the Athletics for the AL's second wild card. Kyle Seager is mired in a 17-game home-run drought and is 12-for-88 in 25 contests since posting a two-hit outing on Aug. 9.

TV: 9:10 p.m. ET, YES (New York), ROOT Northwest (Seattle)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Yankees RH Lance Lynn (8-10, 5.10 ERA) vs. Mariners RH Felix Hernandez (8-13, 5.55)

Lynn was torched for six runs and nine hits over 3 2/3 innings while losing to Detroit in his last turn. The 31-year-old has struggled over his last four outings, allowing 31 hits in 18 2/3 frames while going 0-2 with a 9.16 ERA during the stretch. Lynn, who never has faced Seattle, experienced troubles with Jean Segura (10-for-29) when both players were in the National League.

Hernandez has lost seven straight decisions as the worst season of his stellar career continues to unravel. The 32-year-old lost to Oakland in his last turn as he gave up four runs and four hits over five innings. Hernandez is 10-7 with a 3.00 ERA in 22 career starts against the Yankees, including a no-decision on June 20 in which he gave up two runs - one earned - and six hits over five frames.

WALK-OFFS

1. Yankees SS Didi Gregorius (heel) was activated from the 10-day disabled list and went 0-for-1 in the series opener.

2. Seattle LHP Marco Gonzales (neck) threw a 35-pitch bullpen session Friday and will come off the 10-day DL to start against San Diego on Tuesday.

3. New York RF Aaron Judge (wrist) hit off a tee and swung at underhand tosses on Friday and is expected to take batting practice early next week.

PREDICTION: Yankees 7, Mariners 3