The Yankees will be hoping to dodge more than just curveballs this weekend — they’ll be trying to sidestep the rain as they open a three-game series against the red-hot San Francisco Giants starting Friday night in the Bronx.
The Giants come in at 9–3, recently cooled off by the Cincinnati Reds after a seven-game win streak. The Yankees, meanwhile, are hanging on by dental floss and duct tape as injuries continue to chip away at their starting rotation. With a stormy forecast in both weather and opponent, this weekend could get messy.
Game One: Stroman vs. Ray — A Tale of Two Trends
Friday’s opener features Marcus Stroman against Robbie Ray, and the contrast couldn’t be sharper.
Stroman, 33, is trying to find his footing after a rocky start to the season. Over 8.2 innings, he’s posted a 7.27 ERA with just 6.23 strikeouts per nine — a career low — and a fastball that’s dipped below 90 mph for the first time in his career. At 89.8 mph, the velocity drop is concerning, and opposing hitters are picking up on it.
Ray, on the other hand, is coming off a strong performance against the Mariners on April 5, where he allowed just one earned run over six innings. He’s carrying a 3.18 ERA and looks to continue building momentum against a Yankees lineup that’s had its ups and downs early on.
Game Two: Warren Faces Off Against an Old Friend
Saturday’s matchup features Will Warren against former Yankee reliever turned Giants starter Jordan Hicks.
Hicks, who reinvented himself last offseason, has become a decent starter for San Francisco. He’ll face a Yankees team still trying to establish rhythm on offense, especially with so many moving pieces due to early-season injuries.
For Warren, this is a chance to prove he belongs. The Yankees have been forced to lean on their depth arms sooner than expected, and every inning he can give them feels like gold right now.
Game Three: Rodon Returns to His Roots
Sunday might be the most personal of the three games, with Carlos Rodón taking the mound against his former team. Rodón has shown flashes of his old self this season and will be looking to send a message to a Giants team that once banked on his talent.
He’ll be going toe-to-toe with Logan Webb, San Francisco’s ace and one of the most reliable arms in the National League. If the series comes down to the finale, this one could feel like October in April.
Yankees Rotation Is Running on Fumes
While the Giants arrive sharp and confident, the Yankees’ pitching staff is just trying to survive. Injuries have chipped away at the depth chart, leaving Aaron Boone to piece together a rotation that’s held together more by hope than health.
Stroman’s early decline is particularly alarming. A pitcher known for soft contact and movement, his success hinges on location and deception. Without velocity to back it up, hitters aren’t missing as much, and the leash might be shorter than usual this time out.
The Yankees are trying to stay above water, and with another storm system rolling through New York this weekend, both literally and metaphorically, they’ll be fighting to keep their heads up.