New York’s starting pitching and bullpen numbers support the Yankees at -140, with Judge’s absence a meaningful offensive concern.
The New York Yankees visit the Arizona Diamondbacks on September 19 in this 2026 MLB matchup, with right-handers Cam Schlittler and Brandon Pfaadt scheduled to start. New York’s moneyline at -140 is the selection, supported primarily by the pitching comparison.
MLB.com reports that Schlittler owns a 1.95 ERA through 31 starts. His September 13 outing against the Mets illustrates that strength: six innings, one hit, no runs, eight strikeouts and two walks, according to Covers. Across his five listed recent starts, he averaged 2.8 hits allowed and 7.8 strikeouts.
Pfaadt’s latest listed start offers a less reassuring picture. Against Texas on September 12, he surrendered 10 hits and six earned runs in 6 2/3 innings, despite striking out seven without a walk. Across his five listed starts, he averaged seven hits and 1.2 home runs allowed. That gives New York a plausible route to scoring, even with a diminished lineup.
Aaron Judge will miss the weekend series with a right calf strain. Entering Friday, the Yankees had averaged 5.1 runs with him and 4.2 without him, per MLB.com. Friday’s 9-2 victory shows they can produce without Judge, but one game does not erase that broader difference.
New York has won 11 of 15, while Arizona has dropped six of eight. The Yankees also hold the lower season bullpen ERA, 3.07 against 3.91. Those results support the lean, although season bullpen performance does not establish which relievers are available Saturday.
The projection is Yankees 4, Diamondbacks 2, with medium confidence. That score falls below 7.5, but Pfaadt’s recent home-run allowance complicates an under at 7.5 (-123). The over is 7.5 (+102). Neither total earns a recommendation from the scoring evidence here.
The selected wager is New York Yankees moneyline (-140). Schlittler’s season performance and recent work justify an ordinary edge, while Judge’s absence keeps it from becoming a high-confidence play.