The Yankees feel like a bit of a mess with the Gerrit Cole injury, Aaron Judge apparently not 100 percent, either, and having not hit much this spring and likely leadoff hitter DJ LeMahieu on the injured list. Nestor Cortes had an 8.10 ERA this spring. Houston is loaded yet again and now might have the best back end of the bullpen in the majors with the addition of Josh Hader. The Astros had won a record 10 straight OD games before a 2023 loss.

The books are higher on the Bronx Bumblers than I am, so will come out fading. Judge barely played this spring, 3rd base still an issue, worst pen they've had in years. Valdez has bad #s vs them but a lot of guys who roughed him up arent here anymore. I'll take him lefty/lefty vs Soto. Astros were bad at home last year but that's a fluke. Cortes might fool some people but not this Stros lineup. They see him well. Stros beefed up bullpen makes it a 5 1/2 inning game.