CLEVELAND, OHIO - APRIL 22: Yordan Alvarez #44 and Carlos Correa #1 of the Houston Astros celebrate scoring on a two-run home run hit by Alvarez during the first inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field on April 22, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images) | Getty Images After a rivalry showdown in Fenway Park, the Yankees keep with the theme and head to another rival’s outpost in Houston. The Astros have had what can safely be described as a bad start to the 2026 season, despite a valiant effort from a Bondsian Yordan Alvarez. The Yankees will look to take advantage of their lulling AL West rival this weekend.
The Bombers won’t have the front end of their rotation in line for this three-game set, so the offense may have to carry a bit more weight down in Texas. Friday: Will Warren vs. Lance McCullers Jr. (8:10 pm ET)The opening game will see Will Warren taking the bump, who has gotten off to a terrific start in 2026.
The right-hander, who co-led the Yankees in starts last season, is managing would-be career-best 2.49 ERA and 3.06 FIP marks, and is coming off of one of his better efforts on the year. Notably not pitching deep in many games, Warren completed seven innings last weekend against the Royals, racking up 11 strikeouts (tied a career-high) while giving up a pair of runs. He’ll look to build on one of the more impressive starts in his young career.Opposite of Warren will be Lance McCullers Jr.
Once an exciting young pitcher, the now 32-year-old has spent years in injury purgatory. Since 2022, he hasn’t pitched more than 55.1 innings in a season, and that includes entire missed seasons in 2023 and ‘24. Despite a hot start, McCullers has allowed 13 earned runs in his last three starts, in part due to some tough luck (3.98 FIP).
He’ll try to get back on track Friday.Saturday: Ryan Weathers vs. Mike Burrows (7:10 pm ET)Similar to Warren, Ryan Weathers has also enjoyed a very good start to the year. The lefty is coming off his best start in pinstripes to this point, where he tossed 7.1 scoreless innings and struck out eight against the Royals.
The Ryan Weathers experience has been an up-and-down one to this point, but we could be on an upswing now, with the lefty racking up 18 strikeouts in his last two starts. Mike Burrows will toe the rubber on Saturday for the ‘Stros, a newer member of Houston’s squad acquired in a trade from the Pirates. The right-hander brings a four-pitch changeup-heavy mix to the bump, but is coming off some forgettable starts.
The Astros get decent length out of Burrows, but he’s allowed ten earned runs in his last two starts (10.2 IP)Sunday: Luis Gil vs. Spencer Arrighetti (2:10 pm ET)In the finale, Luis Gil will make his fourth start of the season for New York. He too is coming off of his finest effort this far, in which he allowed just two hits across 6.1 scoreless innings against Boston.
His strikeouts have been down to this point in the year, as he’s managed just two Ks in two of his three starts this year. His 13.8 percent K-rate is close to half of his rookie season, so it’ll likely correct a bit, a trend the Yankees would like him to kick off on Sunday. Sunday will see Spencer Arrighetti on the Hill for the Astros, who’s looking to bounce back after a mostly lost 2025 season.
He looked promising in a 145-inning rookie season in ‘24, but made just seven starts last year. Arrighetti has made two appearances this year, and is off to a good start, allowing just three earned runs in 11 innings of work. In his season debut against Colorado, he racked up double-digit strikeouts. He last faced the Yankees back in that rookie season, when he allowed a trio of homers and five earned runs in May of that season.