MLB Picks: New York Yankees vs. Seattle Mariners

The New York Yankees (34-25) and Seattle Mariners (26-34) will open up a four-game American League series Thursday night at Safeco Field, with the first pitch scheduled for 10:10 p.m. ET

New York Yankees vs. Seattle Mariners

The New York Yankees are 3-2 on the road with the money line between -100 and -125

New York has won three games in a row, including a 6-4 home victory over the Cleveland Indians as -176 home favorites Wednesday, while going OVER the betting total of 8. The Yankees are hoping that designated hitter Travis Hafner can continue providing tremendous production in the lineup, as he’s hit safely in 20 of his last 22 games against the Mariners. The club dropped two of three earlier meetings with Seattle in the Bronx, getting outscored by an 18-8 margin. New York is 3-2 on the road with the money line between -100 and -125, with the UNDER going 3-1-1 in that situation.

Yankees starting pitcher Phil Hughes (2-4, 5.37 ERA) has watched the club drop his last four outings, as he suffered an 11-1 setback at home to the Boston Red Sox last time out, surrendering five runs and seven hits over 4.1 frames. The right-hander is 1-1 with a 4.25 ERA in five road outings, issuing six walks and striking out 24 batters in 29.2 combined innings. In 10 career games versus the Mariners, Hughes has compiled a 4-3 record and 4.29 ERA, including a 12-2 home loss on May 15.

Seattle came up on the losing end of a 7-5, 16-inning contest to the Chicago White Sox Wednesday, with the offense going 0-for-13 with runners in scoring position until the 14th inning. “We had so many opportunities, but just didn’t execute,” commented Mariners manager Eric Wedge. The Mariners are 1-2-4 in their last seven series, but they’ve won six of their nine games when taking on AL East opponents. Seattle is 7-5 as home underdogs of +100 to +125, with the UNDER going 8-4 in that situation.

Mariners starting pitcher Aaron Harang (2-5, 5.82 ERA) has watched the club drop three of his last four outings, as he failed to pick up a decision in a 5-4 road defeat to the Minnesota Twins last time out, allowing two runs (one earned) and four hits over six innings. The right-hander is 2-2 with a 3.91 ERA in four home outings, issuing five walks and striking out 20 batters in 23 combined frames. Harang will be making his first-ever appearance against the Bronx Bombers.