Rangers vs Yankees Pick: New York and Texas Open Series in the Bronx (May 20)

• Our Rangers vs Yankees pick analyzes the opening game of a 3-game set in the Bronx
• Texas starts Patrick Corbin, enjoying a renaissance after five terrible years with the Nationals
• New York responds with young Will Warren, still striving for some consistency
• Texas has played well since shaking up its coaching staff
• The Yankees just won 2 of 3 over the Mets

Corbin Has Been an Inspired, Low-Risk Signing

The Rangers signed veteran lefty Patrick Corbin to provide an experienced arm in case they needed him. They have needed him, and he’s delivered. In 7 starts, he has a 3.35 ERA, has thrown 37.2 innings, allowed 36 hits, and 14 earned runs.

This is a far cry from the devastation he left behind in his final five years as a Nat. In three of those years, he led MLB in hits allowed and earned runs allowed. In short, he was borderline non-competitive, with only his contract, and the Nats were in a full rebuild, saving his status in the starting rotation.

He has been excellent throughout May.

For the Yankees against Corbin, the scorching hot Cody Bellinger is 9 for 23 with a double and 5 walks. DJ LeMahieu is 22 for 58 with 3 triples and 6 home runs. Aaron Judge is 2 for 10 with a double and a home run. Trent Grisham is 1 for 7 with a single.

The Rangers have won 7 of 9, almost directly coinciding with bringing in Bret Boone as an assistant hitting coach. Whether there’s a connection is unknowable, but sometimes a different voice and a shakeup do the trick.

Marcus Semien is still scuffling, batting .174 with 3 home runs and a .501 OPS. Joc Pederson has shown some signs of life and is up (UP!) to .130 with a .503 OPS. But he homered on Saturday against Houston and walked twice.

Yankees Earned the Right to Gloat After Mets Series Win

The Yankees took 2 of 3 against the Mets. They and their fans have earned the right to celebrate. The media is now desperately scrutinizing Juan Soto to look for signs of apathy or regret, as if any human being wouldn’t at least be affected in some way by the mania in his return to Yankee Stadium as a Met.

Still, they played well over the weekend and are safely in first place in the underachieving AL East. A team that was supposed to be the Bombers’ biggest threat in the division, the Orioles, just fired manager Brandon Hyde. It’s getting to a critical juncture for the Blue Jays where Mark Shapiro might also make a change from manager John Schneider.

In the first game of their series against Texas, the Yankees send Will Warren to the hill. Warren has a 4.61 ERA, but that stems from three shaky starts. In general, he’s been quite good. In his last start against the Mariners, he pitched 5 innings, gave up 4 hits and 2 earned runs, striking out 9.

The only Ranger Warren has ever faced is Kevin Pillar. Pillar is 1 for 3 with a single.

The Mets kept Judge quiet during the series, but Bellinger made up for it, going 7 for 11 with 2 homers, including a grand slam. LeMahieu is 4 for 12 since his return and has played excellent defense. Judge is finally slowing down a bit, and his batting average is down to .401.

Rangers vs Yankees Pick: The Bombers Will Stay Hot

Despite Corbin’s solid season, the Yankees’ lineup and the short outfield dimensions will be problematic for him. Warren has been up and down, but the Yankees should score enough to mitigate any obstacles their starter faces.