Grisham's Monster Game Powers Yankees to Second Straight Win Over Mariners, 10-5
Trent Grisham is turning into Seattle's personal nightmare.
The Yankees center fielder put together a monster performance Wednesday night, and the result was a 10-5 win over the Mariners that gave New York back-to-back wins to open this early set between the two clubs. New York has now beaten Seattle in consecutive games, and if the first week is any indication, the Mariners have a real problem on their hands.
How it unfolded
This one didn't creep up on Seattle — it steamrolled them. The Yankees jumped out and never let go, riding another big offensive night to a second straight win over the Mariners. New York came in having already beaten this same Seattle club 4-1 the night before, and Wednesday's game looked like more of the same. The lineup did damage from top to bottom, while Seattle's offense generated just enough to keep things respectable but never enough to threaten a real comeback.
For the Mariners, it's the same story that's plagued them this week. They dropped this one to fall further behind New York in the early going, and the results paint a picture of a team searching for answers before the calendar even flips to September call-ups.
Standout performances
Grisham was the headline act, and it wasn't close. The 29-year-old put up 72.0 fantasy points, a number that made him the runaway MVP of the night and the driving force behind everything New York did well. Whatever Grisham touched Wednesday turned into production, and Seattle's pitching staff had no answer for him.
He wasn't alone. Ben Rice chipped in 37.5 fantasy points at first base, giving the Yankees a second bat that made Seattle pay all night. Spencer Jones added 37.0 points of his own, meaning New York had three players clear 37 fantasy points in a single game — the kind of top-heavy production that turns a competitive game into a laugher by the middle innings. Ryan McMahon (16.5) and Jazz Chisholm Jr. (14.5) rounded out the supporting cast, while reliever Brent Headrick added 14.5 points out of the bullpen to help New York close the door.
Seattle didn't go down without some fight. Randy Arozarena led the way for the Mariners with 36.5 fantasy points, continuing to be one of the few consistent bright spots in an otherwise rough week. Julio RodrĂguez followed with 32.0 points, and Dominic Canzone added 31.0 of his own — a trio that, on most nights, would be more than enough to win a ballgame. Instead, it wasn't close to enough against what New York was doing on the other side.
On the mound, Bryce Miller took the loss for Seattle but still managed 15.0 fantasy points, a modest silver lining in a game where the Mariners' pitching staff simply couldn't keep pace with the Yankees' bats. Cal Raleigh and Josh Naylor each added 10.5 points, but Seattle needed far more from the middle of its order to make this competitive into the later innings.
What this means going forward
For New York, this is exactly the kind of start a club wants. Back-to-back wins to open the season against the same opponent, and a lineup that's clicking from the top performers down to the depth pieces. Grisham's monster night is the kind of signature performance that can set a tone for a full season, and if Rice and Jones keep producing at this level, the Yankees are going to be difficult to pitch to.
For Seattle, the concerns are mounting. Consecutive losses to open the year is not the start anyone in that clubhouse envisioned, and the pitching staff's inability to slow down New York's lineup is the glaring issue through the first week. Arozarena, RodrĂguez and Canzone are doing their part offensively. The Mariners need the rest of the roster, especially their arms, to catch up in a hurry.
Grisham's night made him the obvious headline performer of the week for anyone building a lineup on JockBroker, the kind of breakout stat line that can carry a fantasy roster on its own.
