How to watch the Giants vs. Yankees series: Polo Grounds mini-rivalry now stars Aaron Judge, Logan Webb
The Polo Grounds rivalry renews. Aaron Judge and the hot-hitting, torpedo-batting Yanks welcome Robbie Ray, Logan Webb and the Giants' array of arms. These teams were archenemies as neighbors in New York City, dueling over World Series trophies and eviction notices alike. Even if the animosity has historically calcified, this is still a banger of a series.
The Yankees just snapped a three-game losing streak, taking a gray and cold Wednesday tilt at Detroit by a 4-3 final (they led 4-0 in the bottom of the ninth). Even with the offense held in check by the Tigers' exacting pitchers (and the Michigan chill), New York still leads all teams in runs and homers per game. Reigning MVP Judge has another Jon Dowd slash line of .354/.446/.792, and it's been an all-around slugfest up and down the lineup. Ben Rice (1B, DH) looks like a real ascendant at 26 years old, while Paul Goldschmidt has adjusted to his pinstripes at age 37.
Advertisement
But they have a tough draw in San Francisco. Former Cy Young Robbie Ray looks to start his season 3-0 on Friday. The Yankees are .203 all-time against Ray, but they have smashed eight homers in those six starts. Saturday's assignment, righty Jordan Hicks (1-0, 2.38 ERA), is in the 94th percentile for fastball velocity on Baseball Savant. And Sunday's starter is the most formidable — right-hander Logan Webb, who finished sixth in NL Cy Young voting last year and was the runner-up in 2023.
First baseman Wilmer Flores' bat is billowing smoke, with five homers and 27 hits in these early season games. Japanese second-year Jung Hoo Lee has three multi-hit tries in his last five. And outfielder Mike Yastrzemski hit a walk-off ball that splashed nearby kayakers. Here's one of many considerations for the broadcast moment of the year:
The swing. The call. The celebration. 😍 pic.twitter.com/Z2dnTNxsGE
— SFGiants (@SFGiants) April 9, 2025
San Francisco gets righties Marcus Stroman and Will Warren on Friday and Saturday, respectively. Both have been underwhelming in the early returns. Opening Day starter LHP Carlos Rodón takes Sunday's mound at 1-2 with a dispiriting 5.19 ERA. He surrendered six runs (five earned) in Monday's loss to the Tigers.
Most home runs in both jerseys:
Betting/odds, ticketing and streaming links in this article are provided by partners of The Athletic. Restrictions may apply. The Athletic maintains full editorial independence. Partners have no control over or input into the reporting or editing process and do not review stories before publication.
(Photo of Logan Webb: Tim Warner / Getty Images)
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Washington Post
11 minutes ago
- Washington Post
Hunter Dobbins caps an eventful week with his 2nd win over the Yankees
BOSTON — Hunter Dobbins had quite the week. First, he said last weekend that he'd rather retire than pitch for the Yankees because his father was drafted by New York twice before being traded. Then, he goes out and beats the Yankees . A few days after his comments about never wanting to pitch for New York, he ends up having to defend his dad's story about being drafted by the Yankees in response to a New York Post article that cited multiple official databases and the Yankees' own records that couldn't confirm Lance Dobbins ever having played with the organization.
Yahoo
14 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Hunter Dobbins caps an eventful week with his 2nd win over the Yankees
Boston Red Sox's Hunter Dobbins delivers a pitch to a New York Yankees batter in the first inning of a baseball game, Saturday, June 14, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Steven Senne) Boston Red Sox's Hunter Dobbins delivers a pitch to a New York Yankees batter in the first inning of a baseball game, Saturday, June 14, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Steven Senne) Boston Red Sox's Hunter Dobbins delivers a pitch to a New York Yankees batter in the first inning of a baseball game, Saturday, June 14, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Steven Senne) Boston Red Sox's Hunter Dobbins delivers a pitch to a New York Yankees batter in the first inning of a baseball game, Saturday, June 14, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Steven Senne) Boston Red Sox's Hunter Dobbins delivers a pitch to a New York Yankees batter in the first inning of a baseball game, Saturday, June 14, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Steven Senne) BOSTON (AP) — Hunter Dobbins had quite the week. First, he said last weekend that he'd rather retire than pitch for the Yankees because his father was drafted by New York twice before being traded. Then, he goes out and beats the Yankees. Advertisement A few days after his comments about never wanting to pitch for New York, he ends up having to defend his dad's story about being drafted by the Yankees in response to a New York Post article that cited multiple official databases and the Yankees' own records that couldn't confirm Lance Dobbins ever having played with the organization. Then on Saturday night, Dobbins (4-1) follows up by going six shutout innings in Boston's 4-3 victory over New York, his second win over the Yankees in less than a week. 'It's a lot of fun. I'm more worried about just the win column, whether it's against them or anybody,' he said. 'My job is to try and help this team win as many ballgames as we can, and pitch in meaningful playoff baseball games. That's what I'm more focused on.' But he realizes what it means to the fanbase in this longtime rivalry, with the Red Sox fans heard chanting about the Yankees outside the park before he spoke in an interview room. Advertisement 'Yeah, I love being able to perform and get those wins for the fans here,' he said. 'They deserve it. It's a great city, passionate fanbase, so being able to get those wins — especially twice in one week — means a lot, and looking forward to trying to build on that going forward.' In his victory over New York last Sunday, Dobbins held the Yankees to three runs over five innings, two on a first-inning homer by Aaron Judge. On Saturday night, Judge went 0 for 3 against him, striking out twice on curveballs. 'It was just kind of scouting,' Dobbins said of his game plan against New York's slugger after Garrett Crochet struck him out three times in the series opener Friday. Advertisement 'Crochet has an electric fastball. I can throw it hard, but the shape isn't quite as elite,' he said. 'So we knew we had better weapons to go at him with, so I felt like we did a good job of kind of keeping a balanced attack throughout the order.' Dobbins struck out five and gave up only two singles on Saturday. ___ AP MLB:
Associated Press
15 minutes ago
- Associated Press
Hunter Dobbins caps an eventful week with his 2nd win over the Yankees
BOSTON (AP) — Hunter Dobbins had quite the week. First, he said last weekend that he'd rather retire than pitch for the Yankees because his father was drafted by New York twice before being traded. Then, he goes out and beats the Yankees. A few days after his comments about never wanting to pitch for New York, he ends up having to defend his dad's story about being drafted by the Yankees in response to a New York Post article that cited multiple official databases and the Yankees' own records that couldn't confirm Lance Dobbins ever having played with the organization. Then on Saturday night, Dobbins (4-1) follows up by going six shutout innings in Boston's 4-3 victory over New York, his second win over the Yankees in less than a week. 'It's a lot of fun. I'm more worried about just the win column, whether it's against them or anybody,' he said. 'My job is to try and help this team win as many ballgames as we can, and pitch in meaningful playoff baseball games. That's what I'm more focused on.' But he realizes what it means to the fanbase in this longtime rivalry, with the Red Sox fans heard chanting about the Yankees outside the park before he spoke in an interview room. 'Yeah, I love being able to perform and get those wins for the fans here,' he said. 'They deserve it. It's a great city, passionate fanbase, so being able to get those wins — especially twice in one week — means a lot, and looking forward to trying to build on that going forward.' In his victory over New York last Sunday, Dobbins held the Yankees to three runs over five innings, two on a first-inning homer by Aaron Judge. On Saturday night, Judge went 0 for 3 against him, striking out twice on curveballs. 'It was just kind of scouting,' Dobbins said of his game plan against New York's slugger after Garrett Crochet struck him out three times in the series opener Friday. 'Crochet has an electric fastball. I can throw it hard, but the shape isn't quite as elite,' he said. 'So we knew we had better weapons to go at him with, so I felt like we did a good job of kind of keeping a balanced attack throughout the order.' Dobbins struck out five and gave up only two singles on Saturday. ___ AP MLB:
