The New York Yankees enter their Memorial Day road matchup against the Los Angeles Angels with a 29–24 record, navigating a season marked by injury setbacks, offensive bursts, and a determined push to remain in the thick of the American League East race. Despite losing Giancarlo Stanton to the injured list and missing ace Gerrit Cole for the season, the Yankees have continued to find ways to win through a blend of veteran leadership, bullpen strength, and explosive offensive output that currently sees them averaging 5.54 runs per game. The driving force of that offense remains Aaron Judge, who continues to deliver as one of the premier power hitters in the game, while Anthony Rizzo provides steady protection behind him with timely hits and solid plate discipline. That duo has kept the Yankees dangerous in the middle innings, while contributions from the supporting cast—like Gleyber Torres and Anthony Volpe—have offered enough balance to make this lineup difficult to navigate for opposing pitchers. The Yankees will turn to Ryan Yarbrough for a spot start in this game, a soft-tossing lefty who relies on deception and location rather than velocity to induce weak contact and extend outings. Yarbrough’s inclusion in the rotation is a reflection of the Yankees’ injury-plagued pitching depth, and his ability to get through the Angels’ potent top half of the lineup—particularly Ohtani and Trout—without allowing early runs will be critical to the game’s tone.

The good news for New York is that their bullpen has been a stabilizing force all year, with multiple arms able to handle leverage situations, shorten games, and protect slim leads. Defensively, the Yankees have executed cleanly, rarely giving away extra bases or making unforced errors, a trend they’ll need to maintain on the road where margins are tighter. However, one glaring issue for the Yankees has been their struggles against the spread when traveling—they’ve covered the run line in just three of their last eleven road games, often playing down to competition or failing to secure blowout wins away from the Bronx. That trend makes this matchup against a .500 Angels team particularly important, as the Yankees look to flip their road narrative and gain momentum on a West Coast trip. Manager Aaron Boone has continued to manage aggressively with substitutions, platoons, and bullpen usage, adjusting to the available roster with a sharp eye on matchups. If the Yankees can strike early with Judge or Rizzo and provide Yarbrough with run support, they’ll be in good shape to let their bullpen take over and lock down a much-needed road win. With the AL East standings as tight as ever, every game holds weight, and this matchup offers the Yankees a prime opportunity to flex their depth and competitive edge against a talented but inconsistent Angels squad. A win here would further solidify New York’s position as a legitimate playoff contender and send a message that even shorthanded, they’re capable of winning anywhere, anytime.