The Yankees completed the yearly tradition of a low-scoring extra-innings game against the Mariners last night, falling 2-1 in 11. This tightly pitched context came at the heels of the Bombers’ sixth double-digit scoring effort of the year on Monday. It’s a familiar theme: big wins and close losses. Today’s rubber match will decide which team will board a flight out of Seattle whistling a victorious tune.

Will Warren will toe the slab tonight in King County. His last start against the A’s was by far the best of his young MLB career: a one-run masterpiece in which he pitched into the eighth inning. He’ll look for two good outings in a row facing a Mariners lineup which Yankee pitching has held in check through the first two games of this set. Having struggled facing hitters a second and third time, Warren finally seemed to have some answers to that common starter’s trouble facing the green and gold. How Seattle sees him after a turn through the order will likely play a big role in how this contest is decided.

The Mariners send La Piedra, Luis Castillo to face the Yankees this afternoon. It’s hard to say that a pitcher who has posted a sub-3.50 ERA in his Mariners career has been disappointing, but Castillo has generally not looked like the ace Seattle acquired and extended him to be. Good but not great last year, the 32-year old is having an unremarkable 2025 so far with a 3.95 ERA in eight turns through the rotation. His strikeouts are down, walks are up, and velocity is down across the board. He’s twirled some beauties against New York in the past, though: in 2022 he pitched seven quality innings against the Yankees with Cincinnati, got traded to Seattle, saw the Yankees again, and went eight scoreless.

It’s a day game after a night game, so you know what that means: J.C. Escarra will be behind the plate today in place of Austin Wells. You can understand why though, as that battery worked wonders together in Sacramento. DJ LeMahieu will make his lukewarmly-anticipated first start of 2025 at second base, with Jorbit Vivas manning third. Aaron Judge gets a day off his feet as Cody Bellinger spots him in right field.

How to watch:

Location: T-Mobile Park — Seattle, WA

First pitch: 4:10 pm EDT

TV Broadcast: YES, ROOT Sports Northwest

Radio Broadcast: WFAN 660/101.9 FM, WADO 1280 (NYY), Seattle Sports (710AM) (ATH)

Online Steam: MLB.tv, Gotham Sports App

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