Team USA captains of past and present kick off a four-game set in the Bronx Monday night, as Aaron Judge and the New York Yankees host Mike Trout and the Los Angeles Angels at Yankee Stadium.
The Angels (8–8, 3rd AL West) recently took two of three from the Reds in Cincinnati, punctuated by Sunday’s 9–6 win behind a seven-inning gem from Jose Soriano. The Yankees (8–7, 1st AL East) have stumbled after a scorching start, dropping five straight games following a three-game sweep by the Rays at the Trop.
Here’s a look at Monday’s lineup cards:
Los Angeles Angels
- NOT YET SUBMITTED
LHP Yusei Kikuchi
New York Yankees
- Paul Goldschmidt, 1B
- Aaron Judge, RF
- Cody Bellinger, CF
- Giancarlo Stanton, DH
- Amed Rosario, 3B
- Jazz Chisholm Jr., 2B
- Randal Grichuk, LF
- Jose Caballero, SS
- Austin Wells, C
RHP Will Warren
First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. ET. New York enters as a -194 moneyline favorite on DraftKings Sportsbook, while Los Angeles sits as a +159 underdog. The game total is set at O/U 9.5 runs.
Angels vs. Yankees Preview
Los Angeles Angels
For their standards, the Angels have started the 2026 campaign on the right foot. They’ve slugged their way to an 8–8 record with two series victories over their last three sets — ranking third in MLB with 19 home runs over their first 16 games. But outside the deep ball, largely supplied by Zach Neto and Jorge Soler, LA’s offense has been largely stalled. The club sits just 15th in OPS, 26th in batting average, and 23rd in xwOBA, while also striking out at a high rate.
The Angels’ pitching staff has also been pedestrian early on, constantly undone by an unacceptable 5.45 walks per nine innings — second-most in baseball. They also lead the majors with 12 wild pitches. On Monday, they’ll need more from veteran lefty Yusei Kikuchi, who has pitched to a 6.75 ERA (3.80 xERA) with a 1.77 WHIP across his first three starts. While the two-time All-Star has flashed elite offspeed stuff — primarily his changeup — opposing hitters are pouncing on his meaty fastball.
And despite Jo Adell’s herculean efforts, LA’s defense has been a waving red flag. It enters Monday night, sitting 29th in fielding run value and tied for the third-most errors in the sport.
New York Yankees
Boasting baseball’s most potent offense last season, the Yankees opted to run it back in 2026. Through 15 games, the decision has yielded drastically different results. New York has dropped five straight games behind a completely dormant offense — sitting 25th in OPS and 28th in batting average with a top-five strikeout rate.
Outside of Ben Rice, who has been arguably the best hitter in baseball, the Yankees’ bats have been virtually nonexistent — underscored by a slumping Aaron Judge and a lifeless 6-through-9. And against the left-handed Kikuchi, righty veteran Paul Goldschmidt will start in place of Rice. Still, New York’s top-ten xwOBA suggests the offense won’t stay silent for long, and Judge’s ninth-inning, two-run homer on Sunday could serve as the catalyst.
Fortunately, the Yankees have only sputtered on one side of the ball. Their pitching staff has been absolute nails, posting MLB’s second-best ERA (2.78) while pacing the majors in xERA (2.96), FIP (2.39), and home runs per nine innings (0.32). They’ll look to keep the momentum rolling Monday night with young right-hander Will Warren on the bump. He has gotten off to a strong start in Year 3, owning a 3.07 ERA (3.54 xERA) with 14 strikeouts across his first three starts (14.2 innings). His career-high 54.5% ground-ball rate ranks in the league’s 81st percentile.
Angels vs. Yankees Pick, Best Bet
No team in 2026 has hit lefties worse than New York, which currently sits dead last in batting average (.113), OPS (.405), and wRC+ (23) against southpaws. However, Judge’s ninth-inning blast on Sunday should spark a turnaround heading into a fresh series with the middling Angels.
Expect the Yankee pitchers to remain dominant, while their hitters finally provide some run support en route to a skid-snapping victory. And if Rice makes a late-game appearance, count on a spread-covering statement win from the home team.
