There are only six MLB games taking place on Thursday, April 9, and one of the afternoon contests will have the Athletics (4-7) squaring off against the New York Yankees (8-3) at 1:35 p.m ET.
This will be the third and final game of a three-game series, with the Athletics and Yankees splitting the first two matchups.
Below, we’ll break down our Athletics vs. Yankees prediction and picks for Thursday’s showdown. Make your MLB picks on PrizePicks and earn real money if you’re right, including on game winners, spreads, and totals!
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Athletics vs. Yankees Prediction, Spread, Over/Under
To close out the series, it will be Athletics SP Jeffrey Springs (3.78 xFIP across 2 starts and 11.1 IP in 2026) and Yankees SP Ryan Weathers (3.10 xFIP across 2 starts and 8.0 IP) on the mound.
After recording a 1.47 HR/9 last season, Springs has yet to give up a long ball to begin the 2026 MLB season, and he’s logging a .233 BABIP and 43.3% ground ball rate, via FanGraphs.
Although it’s still very early in the campaign, the Athletics’ bats have been ice-cold, posting the eighth-worst wRC+ (89), eighth-worst wOBA (.299), and the highest strikeout rate (29.3%) through their first 11 outings.
Weathers has also allowed 0 HRs to begin the year, and he has a stellar 28.9% strikeout rate, though a 13.2% walk rate and 1.88 WHIP aren’t ideal for long-term success.
At the plate, the Yankees have been solid, notching the seventh-best wRC+ (109), ninth-best wOBA (.322), and seventh-best ISO (.147) in the league.
Athletics vs. Yankees Spread, Over/Under
The Athletics enter Thursday’s game as road underdogs, returning a 2.7x payout on PrizePicks Team Picks if they win outright.
The Yankees are home favorites with a 1.42x payout if they win, via PrizePicks Team Picks, where you can earn money with your picks in 35 states.
- Spread: Yankees -1.5 (1.92x payout)
- Over/Under: 8.5 Runs (2.04x payout on over)
- Game Winner Payout: Athletics 2.7x | Yankees 1.42x
Team Picks data is live at the time of writing and is subject to change.
Athletics vs. Yankees Prediction to Win – 4/9/26
Here are the key stats to know before locking in your Athletics vs. Yankees prediction on the winner for Thursday, April 9, on PrizePicks.
- According to FanGraphs, the Athletics had the fourth-highest strikeout rate (24.8%) and eighth-lowest walk rate (7.4%) vs. left-handed pitching in 2025.
- Meanwhile, the Yankees had the 12th-highest strikeout rate (23.6%) but the highest walk rate (10.7%) when facing southpaws a season ago.
- Despite Springs’ formidable start to the year, he was in the 34th percentile in xERA (4.30), 33rd percentile in xBA (.249), and sixth percentile in groundball rate (31.9%) last season, per Baseball Savant.
- New York excelled at bouncing back from losses in 2025, going 39-32 following a defeat. To start the 2026 campaign, the Yankees are a perfect 2-0 after a loss.
- As a road underdog last season, the Athletics went 29-38. The A’s have gone 2-6 as road underdogs to begin the 2026 season.
- Against American League teams last year, New York went 71-50, compared to the Athletics' 56-58 record in the same split.
Athletics vs. Yankees Picks for PrizePicks Today: 4/9/26
Here are the top Athletics vs. Yankees picks to target for Thursday, April 9, on PrizePicks. Today’s MLB picks for PrizePicks are headlined by Yankees OF Aaron Judge and Athletics C Shea Langeliers.
Yankees OF Aaron Judge vs. Athletics Projection: 7.5 Hitter Fantasy Score
- Unsurprisingly, Springs had worse metrics against righties in 2025, accruing a 4.70 xFIP, 1.22 WHIP, and 1.66 HR/9 in that split. For context, Springs had a 4.42 xFIP, 1.19 WHIP, and 0.76 HR/9 to lefties.
- Aaron Judge crushed left-handed pitching to the tune of a 225 wRC+, .493 wOBA, and .447 ISO last season.
- Once Springs exits the game, the A’s bullpen has the fourth-worst xFIP (4.89), seventh-worst xERA (5.20), and fourth-worst BABIP (.324) to start the 2026 campaign.
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Athletics C Shea Langeliers vs. Yankees Projection: 5 Hitter Fantasy Score
- Shea Langeliers performed well against left-handed pitchers in 2025, recording a stellar 184 wRC+, .439 wOBA, and .300 ISO in that split.
- Langeliers has also gotten off to a blazing start this year, notching a 179 wRC+, .428 wOBA, and .356 ISO across his first 48 PAs.
- After allowing a 9.5% barrel rate and 42.2% hard-hit rate in 2025, Weathers can be susceptible to giving up loud contact.
Make Athletics vs. Yankees Picks on PrizePicks
The Yankees are looking to win their fourth consecutive series of the season with a victory on Thursday. Will the Athletics spoil those plans and win back-to-back games against the pinstripes?
You can make your Athletics vs. Yankees picks on PrizePicks and PrizePicks Team Picks to earn real money. Just pick players, predict More or Less on their projected stats, and cash in if you’re correct. With Team Picks, make predictions on winners, spreads, and over/unders, now available in 35 states.
Stick around with the Playbook for continued MLB predictions, picks, and news throughout the 2026 season.
