Here are five things to watch and predictions as the Yankees hit the road to take on the Colorado Rockies in a three-game series starting on Friday…
Preview
Going up against MLB’s worst
The Rockies are having a historically bad start to the 2025 season. Entering Friday, they are 8-42 and are on pace for just 25 wins. The Yankees can continue their winning ways with a series win this weekend, but they could get out of the gate slowly. They had an early game on Thursday before flying out to Colorado for Friday’s series opener. Don’t be too surprised by the slow start on Friday. They will have Clarke Schmidt on the mound in the opener, and the right-hander has been the weakest arm in the rotation of late.
While the Yankees should win this series, it’s hard to sweep a series no matter how poorly a team is playing.
Can Will Warren keep it going?
Warren has been the biggest surprise for the Yankees this season. After a slow start, the young right-hander has been dominant over his last three starts. In that span, he has allowed just three runs while striking out 26 batters across 18 innings. If you extend that to the start before, he’s struck out 34 batters.
If Warren wants to cement his spot in the rotation, taking care of the lowly Rockies will go a long way. He’s set to pitch in the series finale on Sunday.
Can Max Fried stay perfect?
Fried has been everything the Yankees needed him to be when ace Gerrit Cole went down after season-ending elbow surgery but he can’t continue his perfect start to the season, right?
Fried enters his start on Saturday a perfect 6-0 in his 10 starts — the Yankees are 10-0 in Fried starts this season — and has been dominant with a 1.29 ERA and a 0.93 WHIP. However, Fried has had to grind a bit over his last couple of starts. He allowed two runs over six innings against the Mets in his last start, and really had control issues against the Mariners the start before. In Seattle, Fried allowed one run but could only go five innings before he told his manager he was done.
The Yankees don’t need Fried to be perfect to win against the Rockies, but heading to the thin air of Coors Field could prove tricky. Fried has pitched four games (three starts) in Denver, where he’s amassed a 1-0 record with a 2.91 ERA.
Cody Bellinger heat check
On the offensive side, Bellinger has arguably been the Yankees’ best hitter over the last week or so. His 15-game hitting streak — snapped on Thursday — lifted his average from .198 to .257, his OBP from .270 to .326 and his slugging from .343 to .461.
It’ll be interesting to see if he can keep it going in Colorado after finally going hitless. Bellinger has plenty of experience in Coors Field from his time with the Dodgers. In 52 games, Bellinger is slashing .286/.370/.526 with an OPS of .896 to go along with eight home runs, 16 doubles and three triples.
Seeing more of the Young Yankees
The youth in the Yankees lineup has come up big for the team of late. Jasson Dominguez‘s walked off the Rangers on Wednesday, and Jorbit Vivas‘ first career homer was enough to sweep Texas on Thursday. That’s not to mention Oswald Peraza‘s stellar defense at third base. That’s all coming after the Yankees have suffered injuries to Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Oswaldo Cabrera.
It’s unclear how much time each of them will play this weekend, but all three have contributed to this team of late and seeing more of them will go a long way toward their development for this season.
Predictions
Who will the MVP of the series be?
Cody Bellinger
The slugger has picked it up the last few weeks, and although his 15-game hitting streak was snapped on Thursday, his time with the Dodgers in the NL West will prove helpful this weekend.
Which Yankees pitcher will have the best start?
Max Fried
Warren is a candidate for this, but since this weekend will be the right-hander’s first game at Coors Field, I’ll say Fried gets the job done this weekend.
Which Rockies player will be a thorn in the Yankees’ side?
Hunter Goodman
The young catcher has had a great start to his sophomore season. He’s batting .282 with seven home runs and 31 RBI, and with the lefty facing two right-handed pitchers this weekend, Goodman could do some damage.
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