Preview for Friday, September 18, 2026. Schedule and player information can change.
New York Yankees at Arizona Diamondbacks
The Yankees head to Arizona for a matchup between Gerrit Cole and Eduardo Rodriguez, two veterans who have logged plenty of innings this season. Cole has thrown approximately 115.3 innings with a 3.67 ERA and a WP-calculated FIP of 4.02, while Rodriguez has been busier with roughly 178.3 innings and has posted a sharper 2.62 ERA along with a WP-calculated FIP of 3.81. On the numbers alone, Rodriguez's run-prevention marks look stronger than Cole's across both ERA and FIP, giving Arizona's rotation piece the edge in this particular head-to-head.
Looking at the broader team profiles, the Yankees carry a WP-estimated wOBA of 0.313 compared to Arizona's 0.310, a slight offensive advantage for New York. On the pitching side, the Yankees' team ERA of 3.19 and FIP of 3.79 both look considerably better than Arizona's team ERA of 4.09 and FIP of 4.37, suggesting New York's overall staff has been more effective at limiting runs this season than Arizona's has.
Both clubs have injury designations to account for. Arizona's Kyle Amendt and Ryan Bruno are both listed on the 60-Day IL, and Yordin Chalas is listed on the 7-Day IL. For New York, Angel Benitez is listed on the 60-Day IL, Kervin Castro is listed on the 60-Day IL, and Jazz Chisholm is listed on the 10-Day IL. Taken together, the team-level pitching figures and the slight offensive edge point toward the Yankees looking stronger on paper, even though Arizona's starter Rodriguez holds a clear individual advantage over Cole in this game's starting pitching matchup.
Statistical scope: MLB Stats API; 2026 regular season season-to-date; exact statistical through-date not supplied.
WP selection: Diamondbacks +1.5. Confidence: Slight Lean.
The selection is supplied separately by WP. The comparisons above do not establish why the model made this selection.
WP home-run candidate for Diamondbacks: Corbin Carroll. The selection uses roster and season-stat inputs; it does not establish a confirmed batting lineup or favourable betting odds.
WP home-run candidate for Yankees: Aaron Judge. The selection uses roster and season-stat inputs; it does not establish a confirmed batting lineup or favourable betting odds.
Predictions are uncertain; no outcome is guaranteed. Check the picks page for the latest available selections.