Kawasaki starting at shortstop Saturday vs. Yankees

Right back at it in New York, where it’s a beautiful blue-sky morning in preparation for today’s 1:05 p.m. PT game for the Mariners and Yankees.

Manager Eric Wedge is going with Munenori Kawasaki at shortstop today in place of the struggling Brendan Ryan, while John Jaso is at catcher and Jesus Montero playing DH.

Not surprising he’s keeping both Jaso and Montero in the lineup, though does raise that interesting situation of what happens if Jaso gets hurt since the Mariners then lose their DH. Kawasaki has done a little bullpen work as the “emergency catcher” should it ever get to that until Miguel Olivo comes off the DL, which likely is still a couple weeks away.

Wedge really loaded the lineup with lefties today against right-hander Phil Hughes (2-4, 6.67 ERA), with Montero the only right-hander.

Hector Noesi gets the start for Seattle, which should be interesting as he faces his former teammates for the first time.

I asked Noesi yesterday how he’d feel taking the mound at Yankee Stadium and he just smiled and said, ‘I’ll find out tomorrow.” Tomorrow is now here and I’m sure he’ll be pumped up. Whether he can follow up on last week’s strong start against the Twins remains to be seen, but the Mariners certainly would love to see that guy back on the mound.

Here’s the Mariners lineup today.

Dustin Ackley 2B
John Jaso C
Ichiro Suzuki RF
Jesus Montero DH
Kyle Seager 3B
Mike Carp LF
Justin Smoak 1B
Michael Saunders CF
Munenori Kawasaki SS

Hector Noesi RHP