The New York Yankees host the Seattle Mariners at Yankee Stadium on Thursday, August 13, with first pitch scheduled for 1:35 PM ET. Max Fried gets the ball for New York opposite Seattle's Logan Gilbert in what shapes up as a genuine pitching showcase. The game airs locally on YES Network and on WFAN 660/101.9 FM for radio listeners. With the dog days of August here, every game carries playoff-race weight, and this afternoon matchup against a Mariners club that never makes things easy is no exception.

Starting Pitchers: Max Fried vs. Logan Gilbert

Fried is the story on the Yankees' side. The left-hander has been one of the most reliable starters in the rotation and brings that pedigree into this home start. Gilbert is no soft touch from the other side — the Seattle right-hander has built a reputation as one of the better starters in the American League, generating weak contact and piling up strikeouts. Neither offense is going to get many freebies today. Expect a low-scoring, tightly contested nine innings if both starters are on their games.

Yankees Starting Lineup

• 1. Trent Grisham, CF
• 2. Ben Rice, DH
• 3. Spencer Jones, LF
• 4. Luis García Jr., 1B
• 5. George Lombard Jr., SS
• 6. Jazz Chisholm Jr., 2B
• 7. José Caballero, RF
• 8. Ryan McMahon, 3B
• 9. Ali Sánchez, C

Mariners Starting Lineup

• 1. Randy Arozarena, LF
• 2. Julio Rodríguez, CF
• 3. Dominic Canzone, RF
• 4. Cal Raleigh, DH
• 5. Josh Naylor, 1B
• 6. Brendan Donovan, 2B
• 7. Weston Wilson, 3B
• 8. Jhonny Pereda, C
• 9. Leo Rivas, SS

Keys to Watch

Spencer Jones in the Three Hole

Jones batting third is a significant vote of confidence from the Yankees' dugout. The young outfielder gets a premium lineup spot against a pitcher in Gilbert who will challenge him with his best stuff. How Jones handles that matchup will tell you something real about where he is as a hitter.

Julio Rodríguez and the Seattle Middle of the Order

Rodríguez hitting second in front of Cal Raleigh gives Seattle a dangerous one-two combination that Fried will need to navigate carefully. Raleigh sitting in the cleanup spot as a designated hitter means Seattle is comfortable letting its catcher carry a heavy offensive load — Fried cannot afford to give either man anything comfortable to swing at.

Jazz Chisholm Jr. Down the Order

Chisholm hitting sixth may raise an eyebrow, but depth in a lineup matters and he remains a threat to do damage any time he steps in the box. If the Yankees are going to break a game open against a pitcher like Gilbert, secondary contributors making noise in the middle-to-bottom of the order is how it usually happens.

Prediction

Give the edge to the Yankees at home. Fried pitching at Yankee Stadium in August is a good situation for New York, and the home crowd for a Thursday afternoon game will still be energized. Gilbert will make this difficult — plan on a tight game decided by one or two runs. Yankees 3, Mariners 2.