Oakland Athletics vs New York Yankees Picks and Predictions May 9th 2025

Sacramento Hosts Unexpected Star Duel: Judge vs. Wilson

When the New York Yankees face the Oakland Athletics on Friday night to open a three-game set in Sacramento, California, all eyes will be on Aaron Judge—and unexpectedly, Jacob Wilson.

Judge’s dominance is well-established. The reigning AL MVP leads the majors with a .400 batting average, while also sharing the top spot in home runs (12) and RBIs (34). But Wilson, a 23-year-old rookie and the No. 6 pick in the 2023 draft, has emerged as an elite hitter in his own right, trailing only Judge at .357.

“It’s pretty cool,” Wilson said. “He’s obviously an MVP. To be mentioned next to Aaron Judge means a lot.”

Wilson is red-hot, Judge is in a mini-funk, and this early-season showdown might reveal how quickly stars can rise—and fall—in the big leagues.

Follow real-time lines and hitter props on the MLB Odds Page.

Wilson’s Meteoric Rise Headlines Oakland’s Youth Movement

Wilson went 8-for-14 in Oakland’s most recent series against the Seattle Mariners, including his first career four-hit game on Wednesday. Over his last eight games, he’s 16-for-34 (.471) with six multi-hit outings and a game-winning knock.

Athletics manager Mark Kotsay has responded by moving Wilson to the leadoff spot, a role he’s expected to hold moving forward.

“He’s earned it,” Kotsay said. “He’s walking, he’s swinging at good pitches, and he’s been our best bat.”

Wilson is also 4-for-9 against sliders and changeups this month, two key pitches he’ll see from Yankees rookie Will Warren.

Check Wilson’s over/under hits line on the MLB Player Props page.

Judge Back in NorCal, Hoping to Snap Slump

Judge, who grew up 50 miles south of Sacramento, returns to familiar territory looking to snap a 2-for-15 skid. Though he crushed a homer against the Padres this week, he went just 1-for-10 in the series.

Interestingly, the Athletics drafted Judge in the 31st round out of high school in 2010, but he chose college instead. He went on to star at Fresno State before being taken by the Yankees with the 32nd overall pick in 2013.

The Yankees are hoping his homecoming series ignites a return to MVP form.

Pitching Matchup: Will Warren vs. Osvaldo Bido

New York Yankees: Will Warren (1-2, 5.65 ERA)
Oakland Athletics: Osvaldo Bido (2-2, 4.71 ERA)

The Yankees will start rookie right-hander Will Warren, who showed swing-and-miss stuff in his last outing, striking out eight batters in 4 2/3 innings vs. the Tampa Bay Rays. However, he gave up five runs (three earned) and struggled with command late.

Warren has yet to pitch against the A’s, and Sacramento’s spacious outfield could be a factor in limiting damage if his control wavers again.

Osvaldo Bido takes the mound for the Athletics. He allowed four runs over five innings in a no-decision vs. Miami in his last start. The 29-year-old has yet to notch a win in his past three outings, but his strikeout numbers (20 Ks in last 18 innings) suggest there’s some upside.

Neither pitcher has faced their Friday opponent before.

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Yankees’ Lineup Getting Support Beyond Judge

With Judge cooling off, players like Trent Grisham have stepped up. Grisham blasted a pinch-hit, game-tying home run in the eighth inning Wednesday, capping a productive series against his former club (2 HRs, 5 RBIs).

Grisham has 10 home runs in just 89 at-bats this season, surpassing his 2024 total already. His surprising surge could make a difference in a ballpark not known for power.

“I’m just having fun out there,” Grisham said. “This clubhouse is led by Cap (Judge), and everyone’s feeding off that.”

Key Trends and Betting Stats

• Yankees are 6-2 in their last 8 games
• Athletics are 4-6 in their last 10
• Aaron Judge has homered in 4 of his last 9 games
• Jacob Wilson is batting .471 in his last 8
• Over is 5-2 in Athletics’ last 7 home games
• Grisham has hit 4 home runs in May

Get sharp money trends, expert picks, and over/under data on the MLB Picks Page.

Series Outlook

With both Judge and Wilson leading their respective teams in average, and pitching matchups tilted toward the offenses, this could be a high-scoring series.

Key things to watch:

• Will Judge’s return to NorCal spark a resurgence?
• Can Wilson keep up his All-Star level pace against big-league arms?
• Will either starter last beyond the fifth inning?

With both teams having bullpen questions, expect late-inning runs to determine outcomes.

FAQs

Who’s starting Friday night’s game?
Will Warren (Yankees) vs. Osvaldo Bido (Athletics).

How has Jacob Wilson been performing?
He’s hitting .357 on the season and .471 in his last eight games.

Is Aaron Judge slumping?
He’s 2-for-15 in his last four games but still leads MLB in average (.400) and homers (12).

Where are the Yankees and A’s playing?
This series is being played in Sacramento, Calif., the Athletics’ temporary home site.

Who has the edge in the opener?
Offenses are expected to thrive, but Judge’s return home could be the x-factor.

Where can I get daily betting tips?
Visit our Free Service Plays and Expert Packages for insights.