Cleveland Indians (71-73) vs. New York Yankees (82-64)
September 17, 2021 7:05 pm EDT
The Line: New York Yankees -196 / Cleveland Indians +145; Over/Under: -8.5
(Get latest betting odds)
The Cleveland Indians and the New York Yankees meet Friday in MLB action from Yankee Stadium. Cleveland is coming off a series versus the Twins this week. The Indians managed two wins in that three-game set. As for New York, they just finished up against the Orioles. The Yankees won the first pair in that series, and in the Thursday finale New York fell in extra innings. Check back all season long for free MLB picks at Sports Chat Place.
Cleveland took a 6-3 loss to the Twins on Tuesday, but otherwise won that series with a 3-1 victory in game one and a 12-3 win on Wednesday. In the finale victory, Indians pitcher Cal Quantrill put up 6.2 clean frames with two hits, three walks and four Ks.
In the starter role for the Friday opener, the Indians will send out Zach Plesac. Over 22 starts this year Pleasac is 10-5 with a 4.45 ERA and 88 strikeouts in 125.1 innings.
Over on the Yankees’ side, they posted a 7-2 win over the Orioles Tuesday and another tight victory 4-3 on Wednesday. In the Thursday game New York had a late lead but blew it in a 3-2 defeat. Starter Jordan Montgomery went 5.2 innings with six hits, 12 Ks, one earned and one walk.
For the starter job in the Friday game the Yankees will send out Corey Kluber. This year Kluber is 4-3 with a 4.02 ERA and 72 strikeouts.
The Indians are 3-7 in their last 10 overall and 3-7 in their last 10 after an off day. Cleveland is 11-29 in their last 40 versus a team with a winning record as well.
Meanwhile, the Yankees are 4-1 in their last six Friday games and 8-3 in their last 11 in game one of a series. New York is also 42-18 in their last 60 versus the AL Central.
PICK: I’m going to take a stab on the Indians. Plesac has done fairly well over his last three games, with five earned runs on 14 hits and five walks across a span of 18.0 innings. The Yankees have been getting themselves into holes on the scoreboard with regularity lately, so if Plesac can notch a quality outing here I think Cleveland has a great shot at a W.
