The Yankees will get their first look of 2025 at the Orioles’ Trevor Rogers on Friday night in Baltimore. 

Out of nowhere, the 27-year-old southpaw has emerged as the ace for the O’s, setting up a tough challenge for the Bombers as they battle for positioning in the American League playoff race. 

The Yankees are three games behind Toronto in the AL East with nine games left in each team’s season, but hold a two-game lead for the top wild-card spot.

Rogers didn’t debut until late May this season after suffering a partial dislocation of his right kneecap over the offseason, but he’s been one of the top starters – if not the best – in baseball since then. 

His 1.43 ERA since May 24 – the date of his first outing this season – is by far the lowest of any pitcher with at least 75 innings on the mound over that period. 

And that’s not all. 

It’s the lowest ERA by a starter through his first 16 starts of a season in Orioles history. 

Rogers hasn’t faced the Yankees since suddenly becoming a star this season, but he’s had some luck against some of their most important hitters in the past. 

Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, Paul Goldschmidt and Trent Grisham are a combined 2-for-13 with zero omers in 17 career plate appearances against Rogers.

Austin Slater, a supposedly lefty specialist off the bench for the Yankees, is 0-for-8 with three strikeouts against him.

Rogers left his last start early with a blister on his toe, but he’s reportedly healthy and ready to go Friday. 

I’m betting on yet another solid start for the lefty.

The play: Trevor Rogers Over 5.5 strikeouts (+106, DraftKings) | Under 2.5 earned runs (-122, Caesars Sportsbook)

Dylan Svoboda is a versatile writer and analyst across many sports. He’s particularly knowledgeable about the big three — MLB, the NFL and the NBA.