Yordan Alvarez Is Leading Baseball and the Yankees' Best Pitching Staff Has to Stop Him Tonight

The New York Yankees are rolling right now. After a rough week against the Angels, their pitching has been absolutely lights out, and they're riding a six-game winning streak into Houston on Friday night to face the Astros and their one legitimate weapon: Yordan Alvarez.

This isn't hyperbole. Alvarez is the best hitter in baseball right now. He's leading all of MLB with a .347 batting average, 11 home runs, 26 RBIs, and a 1.245 OPS. Houston's shortstop Carlos Correa didn't hold back either: "To be honest, 2026 Yordan is the closest I've seen to Barry Bonds. Definitely, this version of him is the best. I haven't missed one swing of his all year because he's must-watch."

Yankees Pitching Has Been Unstoppable

The Yankees enter this series with the best ERA in baseball at 3.07. But here's the crazy part: since their stumble against Los Angeles, they're pitching at a 1.17 ERA over their current winning streak. They swept Kansas City, then went to Boston and allowed just three runs in three games. Thursday's 4-2 win over the Red Sox came down to Cody Bellinger's pinch-hit, two-run single in the seventh, which was huge after the lineup struck out 11 times in the first six innings against Boston rookie Payton Tolle.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone kept it real: "Wins are precious any time of year, especially within the division."

Will Warren takes the ball Friday for New York. The right-hander is 2-0 with a 2.49 ERA and is coming off one of his best outings of the season. Last Saturday against Kansas City, he allowed two runs on five hits over seven innings while striking out 11, which marked his third career double-digit strikeout game. His only career start against Houston was back in September 2025, a no-decision in New York's 8-7 loss.

Houston's Got Problems Everywhere Except One Spot

The Astros own the AL's third-worst record and have a league-worst 5.81 ERA. They're dropping games they shouldn't, but Alvarez has been their lone superstar. He drove in five runs in a recent series against Cleveland, including a two-run homer in the first inning of a 2-0 win on Wednesday.

Lance McCullers Jr. gets the nod for Houston on Friday. The left-hander is 1-1 with a 6.20 ERA after a rough outing Saturday against St. Louis, when he allowed four runs on five hits over five innings in a 7-5 loss. He's also given up 10 runs in his past two starts combined. The one bright spot: McCullers is 2-0 with a 2.97 ERA in five career regular-season starts against the Yankees, so there's that.

This three-game series starts Friday night in Houston. The Yankees' pitching has to stay sharp, and the Astros have to hope Alvarez can carry them through Warren and whatever the Bronx Bombers throw at them.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.