Yankees host Athletics to open 3-game series

New York Yankees look to build on strong start against struggling Athletics

Apr. 7, 2026 at 8:03am

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A fractured, multi-perspective painting in the style of Pablo Picasso, depicting a baseball game between the New York Yankees and Oakland Athletics. Geometric shapes in navy blue, forest green, and gold represent the players and field, creating a dynamic, abstract composition.A cubist interpretation of the high-stakes matchup between the Yankees and Athletics, capturing the dynamic energy and competitive spirit of the game.NYC Today

The New York Yankees, who finished with a 94-68 record last season, will host the Oakland Athletics in a three-game series starting on Tuesday. The Yankees had a strong offensive showing in 2025, slugging .455 as a team and hitting 1.7 home runs per game. The Athletics, on the other hand, had a 76-86 record and averaged 8.7 hits per game last year.

Why it matters

This series marks an early-season matchup between two teams with contrasting fortunes from the previous year. The Yankees, as one of the American League's powerhouses, will look to continue their strong start, while the Athletics will try to turn things around after a disappointing 2025 campaign.

The details

The Yankees will send Cam Schlittler (2-0, 0.00 ERA) to the mound, while the Athletics will counter with Aaron Civale (1-0, 3.60 ERA). The Yankees are heavy favorites at -211, with the over/under set at 8.5 runs.

  • The three-game series will begin on Tuesday, April 7, 2026 at 7:05 p.m. EDT.

The players

Cam Schlittler

The Yankees' starting pitcher, who has a 2-0 record and 0.00 ERA so far this season.

Aaron Civale

The Athletics' starting pitcher, who has a 1-0 record and 3.60 ERA this season.

Gerrit Cole

The Yankees' starting pitcher who is currently on the 15-day injured list with an elbow injury.

Carlos Rodon

The Yankees' starting pitcher who is currently on the 15-day injured list with an elbow injury.

Anthony Volpe

The Yankees' infielder who is currently on the 10-day injured list with a shoulder injury.

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What they’re saying

“We're excited to get this series started against the Athletics. They're a tough team, but we're confident in our ability to come out on top.”

— Aaron Judge, Yankees Outfielder

“We know the Yankees are a formidable opponent, but we're not going to back down. We're going to give it our all and try to pull off the upset.”

— Stephen Vogt, Athletics Catcher

What’s next

The series will continue on Wednesday and Thursday, with the Yankees looking to extend their lead in the AL East standings.

The takeaway

This early-season matchup between the Yankees and Athletics will provide an interesting test for both teams. The Yankees, as one of the league's top contenders, will look to continue their strong start, while the Athletics will try to prove they can compete with the best teams in the league.