Masahiro Tanaka To Start Players Weekend Finale As New York Looks For The Series Win As They Take On Seattle

Player Weekend comes to a close today as New York and Seattle play their series finale at Yankee Stadium.

Andrew Albers hadn't won a Major League game in four years when the Mariners picked him up from the Braves to fill a hole in the rotation created when James Paxton went on the disabled list. "according to http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20170826250739932/ms-yanks-square-off-in-players-weekend-finale/?game_pk=492050

Now the 31-year-old left-hander has won two starts in a row, with a chance to make it three, when he starts for the Mariners against the Yankees Sunday at Yankee Stadium on the final day of Players Weekend. Right-hander Masahiro "Masa" Tanaka (9-10, 4.86 ERA) starts for the Yankees, trying to make it two straight wins since missing a start and landing on the 10-day disabled list with right shoulder inflammation. "according to http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20170826250739932/ms-yanks-square-off-in-players-weekend-finale/?game_pk=492050

The Mariners and Yankees will continue wearing specially designed Players Weekend uniforms, which include nicknames on the back and a tribute patch on the shoulder where the players can thank someone influential in their lives. "according to http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20170826250739932/ms-yanks-square-off-in-players-weekend-finale/?game_pk=492050

Tanaka has won back-to-back starts just once since the first week in May, but the Yankees were encouraged by his seven strong innings Tuesday against the Tigers in Detroit. "according to http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20170826250739932/ms-yanks-square-off-in-players-weekend-finale/?game_pk=492050

Albers (2-0, 3.60 ERA) spent 2014 pitching in Korea, and he was in the Minor Leagues for most of the past three seasons. He was 12-3 with a 2.61 ERA for the Braves' Triple-A Gwinnett affiliate when the Mariners picked him up. "according to http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20170826250739932/ms-yanks-square-off-in-players-weekend-finale/?game_pk=492050

"He's a veteran who does all the little things right," Mariners manager Scott Servais said. "He fields his position and did a nice job with the bat in his hand over in Atlanta [in his last start]. He's kind of an old-school, roll-your-sleeves-up-and-here's-who-I-am guy, let's go compete." "according to http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20170826250739932/ms-yanks-square-off-in-players-weekend-finale/?game_pk=492050

Mariners second baseman Robinson "Don't You Know" Cano, who hurt his right hamstring Wednesday in Atlanta and hasn't started a game since, could return to the lineup Sunday. Cano, who struck out in a pinch-hitting appearance Friday, came into the series with a .345 average and four home runs in 22 games against his former team since leaving the Yankees for Seattle as a free agent after the 2013 season. "according to http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20170826250739932/ms-yanks-square-off-in-players-weekend-finale/?game_pk=492050

 Tanaka has never lost to the Mariners in six career starts, going 5-0 with a 2.51 ERA. But the streak only survived his July 22 start at Safeco Field because of a Yankees rally. Tanaka left that game after six innings, with the Yankees trailing, 4-3. "according to http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20170826250739932/ms-yanks-square-off-in-players-weekend-finale/?game_pk=492050

 Albers has never faced the Yankees. The only current Yankee who has ever seen him is Todd "Toddfather" Frazier, who went 2-for-3 against him last September when Frazier was with the White Sox and Albers was with the Twins. "according to http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20170826250739932/ms-yanks-square-off-in-players-weekend-finale/?game_pk=492050

As for New York and Seattle's  last game, New York evened up the series. 

Sonny Gray relished his best start so far for the Yankees, as the man known as "Pickles" during the ongoing Players Weekend festivities fired seven innings of one-run ball in Saturday's 6-3 victory over the Mariners. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/250738100/jacoby-ellsbury-hrs-in-yanks-win-over-mariners/

Gray allowed just three hits and struck out nine, and he is now 2-3 with a 2.70 ERA in five starts since being acquired from the A's in a July 31 non-waiver Trade Deadline deal. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/250738100/jacoby-ellsbury-hrs-in-yanks-win-over-mariners/

Jacoby Ellsbury (aka "Chief") went 2-for-4 with a home run and four RBIs, Brett Gardner racked up three hits and Starlin Castro (aka "All-Starlin") provided a two-run single in the seventh. The Yankees improved to 69-59 and moved to four games back of Boston in the American League East, with the Red Sox hosting the Orioles later Saturday. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/250738100/jacoby-ellsbury-hrs-in-yanks-win-over-mariners/

Backup catcher Carlos Ruiz (aka "Chooch") homered in the third and had two of Seattle's three hits off Gray, but the Mariners missed a chance to leapfrog the Twins into the second AL Wild Card position, as they dropped back to 66-64. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/250738100/jacoby-ellsbury-hrs-in-yanks-win-over-mariners/

Seattle narrowed the margin with RBI singles by Kyle Seager (aka "Corey's Brother") and Guillermo Heredia (aka "El Conde") in the eighth, but Dellin Betances (aka "D.Dawg") closed things out in the ninth for his 10th save. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/250738100/jacoby-ellsbury-hrs-in-yanks-win-over-mariners/

Veteran right-hander Yovani Gallardo (aka "Yo") lost his third consecutive start for Seattle, falling to 5-10 with a 5.78 ERA as he gave up four runs on four hits and five walks in 5 2/3 innings. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/250738100/jacoby-ellsbury-hrs-in-yanks-win-over-mariners/

New York improved to 69-59 with the win while with the loss Seattle drops to 66-64.

New York is now 3.5 games back in the American League East in second place behind  Boston who is leading the division with a record of 73-56 after their loss to Baltimore Saturday by a score of 7-0. Meanwhile, Seattle is now 12.5 games back in the American League West in second place behind division leader Houston who has a record of 78-51.

Seattle and New York will finish up their three game series on Players Weekend Sunday at Yankee Stadium. Left -hander Andrew Albers will get the start for Seattle. He has a record of 2-0 with a 3.60 earn run average. Albers is 2-0 with a 3.60 earn run average through two starts. He has kept opposing hitters off balance with his repertoire of breaking balls. He threw 33 off speed pitches his last outing against the Braves. He will take on New York right -hander Masahiro Tanaka who has a record of 9-10 with a 4.86 earn run average. Tanaka had a solid outing in his return from the disabled list (shoulder inflammation) He allowed three runs over seven innings in Detroit, and manager Joe Girardi was happy with his slider as well as his velocity. "according to https://www.mlb.com/gameday/mariners-vs-yankees/2017/08/27/492050#game_state=preview,game_tab=,game=492050

Will Masahiro Tanaka pitch as well as he did in his return from the disabled list? Will Seattle be able to get their offense against going in the finale? Will New York be able to get their offense going against Andrew Albers? Will New York finally win a series? Will Seattle win the series?

First pitch is set for 1:05 pm. The game will be televised on Yes, RootNW and TBS.