Here are five things to watch and predictions as the Yankees and Athletics play a three-game series at Yankee Stadium starting on Friday night…
Preview
AL East race heating up
Don't look now, but the AL East race is getting tight.
After the Yankees had a sizeable lead in the division, the red-hot Tampa Bay Rays pulled within 0.5 games behind New York for first place. While the two teams won't face each other this weekend, the Yankees could potentially put some space between them with a series win over the lowly A's.
Tampa will head to Baltimore to take on the downtrodden Orioles, so the Yankees will want to take care of business if they expect to still be in first place by the end of the weekend.
Clarke Schmidt encore
Last time Schmidt pitched, he threw seven no-hit innings in what was arguably the best start of his career. Schmidt will take the mound on Saturday after the Yankees decided to flip him and Will Warren to give Schmidt an extra day of rest but what will he do for an encore?
Schmidt has had more success at home (1-1, 2.30 ERA in seven starts) this season, so with the extra rest and pitching at home, expectations are that Schmidt will have another quality start.
Bullpen reset
Thursday's off day came at a great time for the Yankees. Their last off day was back on June 9 (16 straight games) so the bullpen has been taxed. Although Luke Weaver returned from the IL, manager Aaron Boone has had to use his relievers much more than usual, but Thursday gives the team a chance to reset — and Jonathan Loaisiga (illness) a chance to rest. The Yankees do need Warren, Schmidt and Sunday's starter (TBA) to go long to give the bullpen a bit more time off. The Yankees' offense can also help by building huge leads and allowing the low-leverage relievers to stay in longer.
Can the offense turn it on?
The Yankees offense has been up-and-down during this recent cold stretch, but they'll need to be up this weekend and that starts with Aaron Judge. Over his last seven games, Judge is hitting .308 with two home runs, but he has begun to expand his strike zone a bit too much and he's striking out more as a result. In that span, he's struck out eight times. Now, there's no need to panic, Judge is still hitting a league-best .361, but he's starting to swing and miss at the same clip when he was struggling. (Remember the sweep in Boston?)
As the captain goes, so does the rest of the Yankees' lineup.
The return of Luis Severino
This is Severino's second season in the majors since leaving the Yanks in free agency, but this Sunday will be the first time he pitches in Yankee Stadium since 2023. It'll be an emotional day for Severino and for the fans who appreciated the right-hander.
For Severino, his 2025 hasn't been as good as his 2024 when he was with the Mets, but he's been a great road pitcher this year. In seven road starts, Severino is 201 with a 2.27 ERA as opposed to his 0-7 record and 6.79 ERA when playing at home this season.
In May, Severino pitched against his former team in Sacramento. He lasted just four innings and allowed eight runs on nine hits.
Which version of Severino will the Yankees see? And will this year's Yankees squad show Severino they are more than just two hitters?
Predictions
Who will the MVP of the series be?
Jazz Chisholm Jr.
Since Chisholm returned from the IL, he's been on a heater. In 20 June games, Chisholm is batting .329 with four home runs and 13 RBI. With the Yanks taking on two right-handers, Jazz could keep his hot streak rolling.
Which Yankees pitcher will have the best start?
Will Warren.
Warren has continued to be a solid starter, giving the Yankees two straight starts where he pitched at least six innings.
Which Athletics player will be a thorn in Yankees' side?
Jacob Wilson.
The front-runner for AL Rookie of the Year, Wilson continues to hit at an insane clip. He'll enter the weekend series hitting .345 with nine home runs and 40 RBI.
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