MLB matchup analysis

Yankees vs Diamondbacks Prediction, Odds and Model Pick

Saturday, September 19, 2026 at Chase Field · 8:10 PM ET

Official Pick

Leo prediction: New York Yankees moneyline

Lab Rating
7.8/10
Model lean
Yankees 71.4%
Market probability
50.5%
Model edge
+20.9%
Best moneyline
-108
Sportsbooks checked
4
Leo model
71.4%
Market
50.5%

The case for New York Yankees

Starting pitcher edge: 16 points
Leo gives Cam Schlittler a 16-point edge over Brandon Pfaadt, driven mainly by K/9 (11.1 vs 6.1) and K-BB% (25.5% vs 10.7%).

The case for Arizona Diamondbacks

Their bats are hot: +0.009 wOBA
Arizona Diamondbacks is outhitting its own season form over the last 15 days.

Why the setup score is what it is

Conviction: 8.2/10
Leo's win probability for New York Yankees (71.4%) is well clear of a coin flip -- this is a real, stated lean, not a guess.
Pitching plan: 40/40
Cam Schlittler rates 84 on Leo's pitcher score, judged on its own merits (50-80 is the credited range). That is a strong start on its own, and it earns most or all of the available credit here.
Offense: 29.73/50
New York Yankees's recent offensive form clearly outpaces Arizona Diamondbacks's over the tracked windows.

Why the price is what it is

Team strength: 66.5%
Before any pitcher or bullpen adjustment, Leo's team-strength model alone makes New York Yankees 66.5% to win. Everything below moves the price from this starting point.
Pitcher score gap: 16 points
The pitcher-score gap favors New York Yankees by 16 points. This is the biggest single mover of the price -- a large gap moves it a lot, a small gap barely moves it.
Bullpen adjustment: +0.039
The bullpen-fatigue gap between the two pens nudges the price toward New York Yankees. This moves the price less than the starting pitchers do, since a starter covers more of the game than the bullpen.
Net effect: 66.5% -> 71.4%
Team strength alone had New York Yankees at 66.5%. After the pitcher and bullpen terms, the price is 71.4% -- the same number shown as Model Lean above.
The verdict Leo backs New York Yankees at -108. 71.4% to win against a market implying 50.5% - the model sees value and the setup clears every gate.
Read the full model output

New York Yankees is an official moneyline pick because it clears both gates: 71.4% model win probability and 7.8/10 Lab Rating. Leo projects 71.4% against a 50.5% no-vig market number, a 20.9% model edge at -108. New York Yankees owns the starting pitcher edge by 16 points. Bullpen read: Elevated volatility. New York Yankees's pen efficiency: Effective (5.8/10). Bullpen fatigue moved this probability down 21.1 points from 92.5% (starting pitcher and team strength only) to 71.4%. Lineup check: New York Yankees is near its season form (+0.012 OPS); Arizona Diamondbacks is a touch above its season form (+0.029 OPS).

Game information

MatchupNew York Yankees at Arizona Diamondbacks
DateSaturday, September 19, 2026
First pitch8:10 PM ET
VenueChase Field
Starting pitchersCam Schlittler vs Brandon Pfaadt
WeatherGame-time forecast: 101°F, 0% precipitation chance, 9 mph wind from W. This venue has a roof, but the roof status is not confirmed.

Starting pitcher matchup

Full Pitcher Matchup Tool →
Cam SchlittlerYankees · RHP
vs
Brandon PfaadtDiamondbacks · RHP
MetricYankeesDiamondbacks
Pitching planTraditional starterTraditional starter
Expected innings66
ThrowsRR
Leo pitcher score (higher is better)8468
ERA (lower is better)1.953.77
WHIP (lower is better)0.901.17
K/9 (higher is better)11.16.1
K-BB% (higher is better)25.5%10.7%
K% (higher is better)31.6%16.4%
BB% (lower is better)6.1%5.7%
BB/9 (lower is better)2.12.1
HR/9 (lower is better)0.81.0
Ground-ball rate47.0%48.6%
Fly-ball rate53.0%51.4%

Pitcher edge: Leo gives Cam Schlittler a 16-point edge over Brandon Pfaadt, driven mainly by K/9 (11.1 vs 6.1) and K-BB% (25.5% vs 10.7%).

How to read this: the scorecards above name the starters; every number lives in this table.

Strikeout Projections Full strikeout projections →

Cam Schlittler strikeouts
6.2 Leo projected Ks
No K play · -0.3K difference is below Leo's 0.7K threshold
Market 6.5K · O +109 / U -131 · 5 books
Brandon Pfaadt strikeouts
4.0 Leo projected Ks
No K play · -0.5K difference is below Leo's 0.7K threshold
Market 4.5K · O +105 / U -115 · 5 books

Same data source as the Pitcher Matchup Tool, where every starter on the slate is compared side by side.

Yankees are 8-2 in their last 10 and averaging 5.4 runs per game over the last 15 days; Diamondbacks are 4-6 in their last 10 and averaging 4.0 runs per game over the last 15 days. On the season Yankees carry the better run differential per game (+0.93 against -0.05).

MetricYankeesDiamondbacks
Last 108-24-6
Last 10 by venue (away team on the road, home team at home)6-4 on the road3-7 at home
OPS, last 15 days0.7330.741
wOBA, last 15 days (hot/cold read)0.3240.324
Runs per game, last 15 days5.44.0
K% last 15 days (lower is better)22.8%22.2%

Last 15 days only. Hot and cold streaks for all 30 teams live on the Stats page.

30-day offense

Full offense tool →
Last 30 daysYankeesDiamondbacks
OPS0.752 (+0.031 vs szn)0.703 (-0.009 vs szn)
Runs per game5.44 (+0.830 vs szn)3.88 (-0.531 vs szn)
wOBA (model offense input)0.331 (+0.014 vs szn)0.309
K% (lower is better)23.7% (-0.9% vs szn)20.7% (+1.1% vs szn)

Over the last 30 days the Yankees have been the better offense, 0.331 wOBA to 0.309. They are running hot against their own season line (+0.014 wOBA).

Season profile

Full Stats page →
MetricYankeesDiamondbacks
Record89-6480-74
Run differential / game (team quality)+0.93-0.05
Runs scored / game (offense, season)4.614.42
Runs allowed / game (defense, season, lower better)3.684.46
Season OPS0.7210.712
K% season (lower is better)24.5%19.5%
OPS vs opposing hand (season)0.7120.687

Season-long team quality, not recent form. Run differential and run environment come from the season standings; splits for all 30 teams live on the Stats page, including the run environment table.

Every team on today's slate, on any two axes you pick. Yankees and Diamondbacks are highlighted.

Yankees
Combined risk
4.9 Normal
Fatigue
5.3 Normal
Efficiency
5.8 Effective
Diamondbacks
Combined risk
6.2 Tired
Fatigue
6.8 Tired
Efficiency
6.3 Effective

Risk is what the model actually uses: fatigue blended with how well the pen has pitched. High fatigue with high efficiency is a tired pen that is still getting outs.

MetricYankeesDiamondbacks
Fatigue5.3/10, Normal6.8/10, Tired
Efficiency5.8/10, Effective6.3/10, Effective
Combined risk4.9/10, Normal6.2/10, Tired
Relief innings, last 7 days22.024.3
Back-to-back arms36
7-day ERA3.272.22
7-day WHIP1.141.23

Fatigue measures workload. Efficiency measures recent run prevention. Combined risk is what the moneyline and totals systems use.

Run total projection

Full Totals Projections →
Leo projection
7.7
Market total
8.0
Projected away runs
5.4
Projected home runs
1.9
Over price
-105
Under price
-109
New York Yankees team total
5.4 projected
Line 3.5 · O -145 / U +123
Over research lean (+1.9)
Arizona Diamondbacks team total
1.9 projected
Line 2.5 · O -134 / U +122
No team-total lean

The model and market are close. Team totals remain research-only until their graded sample is established.

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