Overall Game Info & Outlook
The Cleveland Guardians and New York Yankees will lock horns in Game 2 of the ALCS in New York on Thursday.
The Yankees defeated the Guardians in Game 1 by a final score of 4-1. Cleveland’s offense was stunted by Gerrit Cole and the Yankees’ bullpen, while New York did just enough from an offensive standpoint to emerge victorious.
This pesky Guardians team needs to win on Thursday in order to avoid facing a 2-0 deficit in the series. Cleveland has upset the odds all season long, but this will be a difficult matchup without question.
- It’s Cleveland Guardians at New York Yankees, this time
- The Guardians swept the Rays in the AL Wild Card Series but trail the Yankees 1-0 in the ALDS
- This game will be played at Yankee Stadium in New York. Rain may wind up being a factor in the game
- The first pitch is scheduled for 7:37 PM EST
Betting Backdrops per Team
Cleveland Guardians Overview:
The Guardians labored in Game 1. Their pitching and defense have fared well during the playoffs, but the lineup has gone cold. The Guardians’ offense have produced all of four total runs in their three postseason games up to this point.
- The Cleveland Guardians are 87-78 against the run line this year
- The Guardians are 48-34 against the run line when playing on the road
- Cleveland is 46-34 against the run line when playing as an underdog
- They are 33-16 against the run line as an away underdog this season
The Guardians’ offense ranks sixth in batting average, 12th in OBP, 21st in slugging percentage, 15th in runs scored, and 29th in home runs.
Pitching-wise, they are fifth in team ERA and fifth in WHIP.
The Guardians’ pitching isn’t the issue. Cleveland is sending ace Shane Bieber to the mound on Thursday, but it won’t matter how well he fares if he doesn’t receive run support.
All season long, this was a team that found ways to scrape runs across the board. Cleveland needs to return to their roots and play their brand of baseball if they want to earn a victory. All of their runs have come via the home run ball so far, in these playoffs.
For a team that ranks 29th in homers, that obviously isn’t how they roll. The Guardians can’t rely on the long ball.
For Bieber on the hill, his main goal needs to revolve around keeping runners off base. He isn’t a pitcher that loses command of the strike zone often; that shouldn’t prove to be an issue.
In a similar fashion to Gerrit Cole, Shane Bieber is susceptible to giving up the long ball at times. But a solo shot won’t kill you. It is the 3-run home runs and grand slams that cause a team to lose control of a game.
Bieber has a chance to shine as an ace in this pivotal start. The Guardians season realistically hangs in the balance, as the odds of them coming back from down 2-0 are extremely slim.
Look for Bieber to rise to the occasion.
New York Yankees Overview:
The Yankees enjoyed a nice bye week in the first round before earning an impressive 4-1 victory over Cleveland in Game 1 of the ALDS. Gerrit Cole struggled early but found his rhythm later in the contest.
The bullpen backed him up with a solid performance.
- The New York Yankees are 73-90 against the run line this year
- The Yankees are 38-44 against the run line when playing at home
- New York is 63-86 against the run line when playing as a favorite
- They are 37-44 against the run line as a home favorite this season
The Yankees’ offense ranks 15th in batting average, fourth in OBP, fourth in slugging percentage, second in runs scored, and first in home runs.
On the pitching side of the equation, they are third in ERA and third in WHIP.
A solid recipe for success is getting on base a lot and then hitting the ball out of the ballpark. A three-run homer is always damaging to an opponent.
And that is exactly what New York does. Do they rely on the home ball too much at times? Maybe, but they have enough thump in the lineup to lean on it.
With Nestor Cortes set to start Game 2 and a strong lineup behind him, New York will feel confident heading into this ALDS affair.
Cortes has been effective and efficient in 2022. With the exception of a late-season minor injury, he’s been a reliable option for Aaron Boone and New York.
He offers a far different approach than that of Gerrit Cole. While Cole relies on sharp breaking stuff and power velocity, Cortes likes to switch speeds and mess with the batters’ timing.
It will be interesting to see how the Guardians adjust to the craft of left-hander.
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Cleveland Guardians at New York Yankees: Odds & Picks
Odds for this Matchup:
The Yankees are the favorites according to the majority of top sportsbooks. But can Cleveland upset the odds in New York?
The Guardians are in-your-face and won’t back down from anybody. Although it is a risky selection, I like taking a chance on this young Cleveland ball club.
Shane Bieber has demonstrated the ability to match up well with most lineups. He is going to give the Guardians a chance to win the ball game.
Cortes is a pitch-to-contact hurler, and that is exactly what the Guardians thrive off of. They love to put the ball in play and place pressure on opposing defenses. Game 2 surprisingly suits Cleveland well.
Recommended Pick:
Go ahead and roll with the Cleveland Guardians +1.5 in this Thursday evening ALDS Game 2 affair.
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