The May 23, 2025 matchup between the New York Yankees and the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field features a glaring disparity between a World Series contender and a team enduring one of the worst seasons in recent MLB history. The Yankees arrive in Denver leading the AL East with a 30–19 record, continuing to assert themselves as one of the most complete and dangerous teams in baseball, with a lethal combination of power, starting pitching, and depth that has helped them weather injuries and maintain consistency. Their offense, powered by Aaron Judge, Cody Bellinger, and Anthony Volpe, has averaged over five runs per game, and that number could rise dramatically in the hitter-friendly confines of Coors Field, where fly balls carry and big innings are common. Clarke Schmidt is expected to start for New York, and though he’s not the ace of the staff, he has proven to be a steady middle-rotation presence, capable of generating ground balls and pitching deep enough into games to preserve the bullpen, which remains a strength despite the recent injury to Fernando Cruz. The Yankees recently called up Brent Headrick to bolster their relief corps, and manager Aaron Boone continues to rotate arms efficiently, ensuring key relievers are available late in tight games. On the other side, the Rockies are staggering through a 8–42 season, the worst record in the majors by a significant margin, and have found themselves outmatched in nearly every phase of the game—ranking near the bottom in both team batting average (.219) and ERA.

Rookie sensation Chase Dollander was a rare bright spot on the mound before being placed on the injured list, leaving the Rockies scrambling for rotation answers and further undermining any attempt to stabilize their pitching staff. Defensively, Colorado has struggled with miscues that prolong innings and drain morale, while their bullpen has been one of the most overused and least effective in the league, often tasked with entering games early due to short outings from the rotation. The lone silver lining for the Rockies is the power potential at Coors Field, where even underwhelming offenses can erupt, but they’ll need to generate traffic and hit with runners in scoring position—something they’ve rarely done with consistency this season. From a betting perspective, the Yankees have covered the run line in 55% of their games, while the Rockies have done so in just 35%, underscoring the chasm between the two teams in terms of competitive value. The total is set high at 12 runs, reflecting Coors Field’s reputation for offense, but the more realistic expectation is for New York to control this game early with a quick strike from their big bats and a composed outing from Schmidt. For the Yankees, this game offers a chance to pad their division lead and keep building momentum heading into summer; for the Rockies, it’s another opportunity to try to find something positive in a season that has offered very little. Unless Colorado can play nearly perfect baseball, the odds heavily favor a comfortable Yankees win.