Here are five things to watch and predictions as the Yankees return home to face the San Francisco Giants in a three-game series starting on Friday.
Preview
Have the bats warmed up?
The Yankees are sure glad to be out of Detroit.
In a frigid three-game series, New York scored just five runs -- and four of them came in Wednesday's win. The Bombers faced some great pitching, including being blanked by reigning AL Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal, but this lineup should be putting up more runs than what they have done so far this week.
Perhaps returning home, despite the anticipated cold, wet weather, will help what ails this Yankees offense.
Facing elite NL West pitching
The last time the Yankees hosted an NL West team, two of the Diamondbacks' best three pitchers held them down in an eventual series win. It'll be just as tough when the 9-3 Giants come to town.
San Francisco will have former Cy Young winner Robbie Ray (3.18 ERA) start the series before Jordan Hicks (2.38 ERA) takes the mound. The series will finish Sunday with perennial Cy Young contender Logan Webb (1.89 ERA) on the bump. New York's bats will need to have warmed up to take on this trio of Giants starters, but it's also a great early-season measuring stick to test this lineup.
Will Warren's final start?
Warren has made two starts this season, one good and one not so much.
With Clarke Schmidt scheduled for his last rehab start on Thursday, one depth starter will lose his spot in the rotation. Is that Carlos Carrasco, Marcus Stroman, or Warren?
It won't likely to be Stroman -- who pitches Friday -- as his contract likely makes him safe for now. Carrasco's excellent spring hasn't carried over in the early going, while Warren has minor league options remaining. It'll be interesting to see which direction the organization goes, but Warren could make the decision even harder with a great performance on Saturday.
Can Devin Williams bounce back?
Williams has struggled to start the season. His last outing saw the dominant closer allow three runs and almost blow an eventual 4-3 win against the Tigers on Wednesday.
The former Brewer is a notoriously slow starter, so this could be just that. But having an easy outing this weekend would go a long way to boosting Williams' confidence with his new team and help ingratiate himself with the fans
Will Paul Goldschmidt's revival continue?
The most pleasant surprise of the early season has been Goldschmidt's effectiveness at the plate. The former NL MVP is hitting .383 with an OBP of .431 and an OPS of .942. Now, his power numbers aren't there -- just one home run and three RBI in his first 12 games -- but he's doing what the team is asking of him, and that's get on base.
He currently has a six-game hitting streak and has multi-hit games in his last three contests. Goldschmidt has hit in the leadoff spot in eight games this year and is batting 6-for-13 (.414) with two doubles, one home run, and has walked twice.
The Giants will have two righties on the mound this weekend, so Goldschmidt will likely not lead off every game. But when he does, we'll see if he can continue to be effective.
Predictions
Who will the MVP of the series be?
Aaron Judge
Whenever the Yanks need a jolt from the offense, Judge is not far behind.
Which Yankees pitcher will have the best start?
Carlos Rodon
Rodon has pitched pretty well this season, even when his stat line doesn't reflect that, and I see that continuing.
Which Giants player will be a thorn in the Yankees' side?
Willy Adames
Adames comes to the Bronx as a Giant for the first time after spending his first seven seasons with the Rays and Brewers. Playing with Tampa Bay, Adames grew familiar with the Yankees and Yankee Stadium. For his career in the Bronx, Adames is hitting .307 with eight doubles, five home runs, and nine RBI in 29 games.
