POINTSHAVERS.COM 09/05/08 - After taking care of business in Tampa this week, the New York Yankees appear to be in a great position to make their run at the 2008 Postseason. If you are a New York Yankees fan, you've got to be encouraged by large number of runs that the Yankees are manufacturing against some pretty decent pitching.

The Yankees destroyed Justin Verlander and the Tigers with 11 runs in 3 innings of play. Next, they traveled to Tropicanna Field and took two out of three from the AL East leading Rays including two convincing wins in Games 1 and 2 where the Yankees outscored the Rays by a total count of 15-6; and, a rally at the top of the ninth in Game 3 where the Yankees scored 5 unanswered runs to almost come back from a 7-0 deficit at the top of the ninth. The Yankees lost that game to the Rays yesterday by a final score of 7-5.

Today, the New York Yankees will face a Mariners team that they have absolutely dominated this year. They have a perfect record of 6-0 against the Mariners; and they have outscored the Mariners by a total score of 50 to 17 in those six games played.

If the Mariners were sending a left hander to the mound, I'd probably give them an outside chance of getting lucky with a win today...but not only are the Mariners sending a right hander to throw to the Yankees...they are sending a right hander that's making his first major league start.

Seattle Mariners RHP Brandon Morrow will be making his first start against a batting lineup that hits right handers well and is just starting to get hot right now.

On the other hand, the Yankees will be sending left hander Andy Petite (1-0 W-L vs Seattle w/ 3.00 ERA) who has given the Mariners trouble in the past.

In addition, the Mariners have not been exactly "lighting it up" lately. Seattle has not scored in over 10 consecutive innings played. They failed to score a run against Dustin Nippert (1-4 W-L, 6.59 ERA) and the Rangers bullpen yesterday in a 1-0 defeat at Arlington BallPark (boooo!).

Not only do the Yankees have the pitching advantage; but, they also have momentum on their side. A win today would make it seven straight victories over the Seattle Mariners and would also keep them close to the Rays and the Red Sox who both have tougher matchups today.

Take New York Yankees -1.5 (-105) vs Seattle Mariners

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