The Daily Yankeeland - 5/23

The Yankees (22-25) open a 3-game series with the Mariners (18-30) tonight at the Stadium before hitting the road for Baltimore. The Yankees have already swept a 3-game home series from the Mariners on May 2-4 (just who exactly comes up with these schedules?).

Andy Pettitte tries to get his season back on track when he goes up against tough lefty Erik Bedard. Pettitte is trying to snap a 4-game losing streak and has not won a game in his last 5 starts. The 2nd time around the batting order seems to be the bugaboo he'll try to correct tonight. Pettitte is 8-10, 4.81 in 18 career starts against the M's.

Bedard was out pitched by Chien-Ming Wang in May 2nd's 5-1 Yankees win. Bedard was charged with 1 earned run in 7 inninngs that night. He gave up an RBI single to Hideki Matsui in the 1st and a 2-run double to Melky Cabrera in the 2nd. For his career, Bedard is 4-4, 3.28 against the Yankees in 11 starts plus 1 relief appearance. The Yankees will be glad to have A-Rod back in the lineup for this one. He's 10-24 with 2 home runs and 6 RBI against Bedard.

Mariners vs. Pettitte

Beltre 0-2
Betancourt 1-3
Burke 0-3
Cairo 9-33 (.273) 2 RBI
Ibanez 5-12 (.417) 2 RBI
Lopez 0-2
Sexson 4-12 (.333) 1 HR 2 RBI
Ichiro 10-23 (.435) 5 RBI 1 SB
Vidro 5-19 (.263) 1 HR 3 RBI

Mike Mussina goes on 3 days rest Saturday against Felix Hernandez, and the series concludes on Sunday with Chien-Ming Wang against Carlos Silva.


Dan Graziano has a nice feature in today's Star Ledger on Mariano Rivera's conversion from mediocre starter from Hall of Fame closer.

Kristie Ackert of the Daily News has a piece on Joba's excitement about starting.

Eric Barrow of the News talks about the odd sports betting ticker in the Yankee Stadium visitor's clubhouse. How exactly has that been allowed?

UPDATE 5/23 6:15 pm Felix Hernandez has been scratched from his Saturday start due to his calf strain. Carlos Silva will be moved up to Saturday and Jarrod Washburn will go on Sunday.