The New York Yankees host the Colorado Rockies at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, with first pitch set for 7:05 PM ET. Right-hander Cam Schlittler gets the ball for New York, opposing Colorado's Gabriel Hughes in a late-season regular season matchup. With September baseball in full swing and playoff positioning still very much in play, every game at 161st Street carries weight. Tonight's contest airs on YES Network and WFAN 660/101.9 FM locally, so there's no excuse to miss it.

Starting Pitchers: Cam Schlittler vs. Gabriel Hughes

Cam Schlittler draws the start for the Yankees, and this is a chance for the young arm to make a statement in a meaningful September game. Schlittler has been working to carve out a role in this rotation, and a strong outing at home against the Rockies would do plenty for his standing heading into the final weeks of the season.

On the other side, Gabriel Hughes takes the hill for Colorado. Hughes is a young right-hander with a lively arm, and he's the kind of pitcher the Yankees need to take seriously rather than overlook. The Rockies may not be a pennant contender, but Hughes gives them a chance to be competitive on any given night.

Yankees Starting Lineup for September 8

• Ben Rice — DH
• Cody Bellinger — LF
• Aaron Judge — RF
• Luis García Jr. — 1B
• Spencer Jones — CF
• Jazz Chisholm Jr. — 2B
• George Lombard Jr. — SS
• Ryan McMahon — 3B
• Austin Wells — C

Keys to Watch Against Colorado

Get to Hughes Early

The top of this Yankees order — Rice, Bellinger, and Judge — is built to do damage in the early innings. If the Yankees can put crooked numbers on the board before Hughes finds his rhythm, this game could get comfortable in a hurry. Judge hitting third gives New York a constant threat, and the lineup has enough depth behind him with García and Jones to extend any big inning.

Schlittler Needs a Quality Start

The Yankees can't afford to burn the bullpen on a September Tuesday against a non-contender. Schlittler needs to eat innings and keep the Rockies' lineup in check. Giving up traffic early would put the 'pen in an awkward spot, especially with a long month still ahead.

Jazz Chisholm Jr. as a Spark Plug

Batting sixth, Chisholm is the kind of player who can change a game's momentum in a single at-bat. Whether he's working the count, turning on a fastball, or manufacturing something on the basepaths, the Yankees need him engaged and aggressive.

Prediction

The Yankees are at home, the lineup is stacked, and the Rockies are not a club built to win in this environment. Schlittler doesn't need to be perfect — he just needs to be solid. Expect the Bronx lineup to do enough against Hughes, and the Yankees to come away with a win in front of the Yankee Stadium crowd. Yankees 6, Rockies 3.