The New York Yankees come into Sunday’s series finale against the Oakland Athletics with a 47–35 record and a strong opportunity to take the rubber match at Yankee Stadium, where they’ve played well all season and have one of the most dominant home records in the American League. Marcus Stroman returns to the mound for his first start since April 11 after recovering from a left knee inflammation that sidelined him for two and a half months, and although his initial 2025 numbers were rough—an 11.57 ERA in just three starts—the Yankees are hopeful that his time off and rehab have allowed him to reset both physically and mentally for the second half of the campaign. Stroman, when healthy, has long been a dependable groundball specialist with a knack for getting out of jams, and New York will be looking for five competitive innings from him to ease him back into the rotation and lean on their rested bullpen to handle the rest. Offensively, the Yankees are powered by Aaron Judge, who is having an MVP-caliber season with a .358 average, .712 slugging percentage, and 28 home runs, consistently setting the tone in the heart of the order while drawing heavy attention from opposing pitchers. Jazz Chisholm Jr. has been red-hot recently with a .912 OPS over his last 30 games, giving the Yankees a needed second dynamic presence in the lineup, and with players like Giancarlo Stanton and Gleyber Torres providing pop and experience, the Yankees can overwhelm opposing pitching staffs on any given night.

Their success at home has been built on getting ahead early and sustaining pressure, and their 25–17 record in the Bronx is a testament to how much more comfortable and productive they are in their own ballpark. Defensively, New York continues to be sharp with a 3.92 team ERA, and with elite relievers like Devin Williams and Clay Holmes anchoring the bullpen, the Yankees are often in control during late-game situations, allowing manager Aaron Boone to confidently shorten games when they take early leads. Against Oakland, a team that lacks consistency and depth, the Yankees will aim to jump on Luis Severino early in counts and force him into long innings, especially given that he tends to struggle after the fifth inning even when pitching well. The Yankees’ recent ATS trends reflect their consistent competitiveness, with a 43–39 record against the spread and five covers in their last seven home games against the A’s, showcasing their ability to handle weaker opponents at home. For New York, this game is as much about securing a win as it is about getting Stroman back on track and ensuring their momentum doesn’t stall heading into July, where they’ll face tighter divisional matchups and need every piece of their roster operating at peak performance. With the crowd behind them, Judge locked in, and Stroman looking to re-establish his form, the Yankees are well-positioned to close out the series with authority and continue asserting themselves as legitimate AL pennant contenders.