The New York Yankees and the Cleveland Guardians meet Thursday in MLB playoffs action from Progressive Field. This will be Game 3 in a best-of-seven ALCS series. Here’s a Cleveland Guardians vs NY Yankees Prediction. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best Guardians vs Yankees pick.
New York Yankees Betting Preview
In the Monday opener of the ALCS, the Yankees scored three runs in the third inning along the way to a 5-2 victory. Starter Carlos Rodon finished with 6.0 innings and one earned on three hits. In Tuesday’s Game 2, New York jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead, posting 11 hits on the way to a 6-3 victory. Starter Gerrit Cole was shaky on 4.2 innings, two earned, six hits and four walks, though.
In the starter slot for Game 3, the Yankees will go with Clarke Schmidt. This year Schmidt went 5-5 with a 2.85 ERA in 16 starts. Schmidt is 0-2 in his career during the postseason with a 6.43 ERA in four games (one start).
Cleveland Guardians Betting Preview
Over on the Guardians’ side, they limited the Yankees to six team hits in the Monday Game 1 but also surrendered seven walks and had some scoreboard damage from wild pitches. In Game 2 Cleveland showed some life in the fifth inning with two runs and ultimately bagged eight hits. Two errors and a short outing from starter Tanner Bibee (1.1 innings; two earned) started things off on the wrong foot, though.
As starter for Game 3, it’ll be the Guardians’ Matthew Boyd. Boyd went 2-2 with a 2.72 ERA in eight starts this year. He’s got a clean ERA without a decision in two postseason starts so far.
Total Runs Facts
- Each of the Yankees’ last five road playoff games have gone UNDER the total runs line.
- Each of the Guardians’ last four home games against AL East opponents have gone UNDER the total runs line.
- The ‘Inning 1 OVER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Yankees’ last six night games at Progressive Field.
- The ‘Inning 1 OVER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Guardians’ last five night games at Progressive Field.
Cleveland Guardians Player Prop Facts
- Jose Ramirez has hit a home run in three of the Guardians’ last four night games against opponents that held a winning record.
- Josh Naylor has recorded at least one RBI in seven of the Guardians’ last eight games against the Yankees at Progressive Field.
- Steven Kwan has scored at least one run in eight of his last nine home appearances against AL East opponents.
- Brayan Rocchio has recorded at least one total base in each of the Guardians’ last seven games against AL opponents.
- Steven Kwan has recorded at least one Single in each of the Guardians’ last nine playoff games as underdogs.
- Steven Kwan has recorded a hit in each of the Guardians’ last 12 playoff games.
- Jose Ramirez ranks T5th in the league in Home Runs (39) this season.
New York Yankees Player Prop Facts
- Giancarlo Stanton has recorded a Double in each of the Yankees’ last three road games against AL opponents.
- Aaron Judge has hit at least one home run in five of the Yankees’ last six games against the Guardians.
- Aaron Judge has recorded at least one RBI in each of the Yankees’ last six games as favorites against the Guardians.
- Aaron Judge has scored at least one run in each of the Yankees’ last six games against the Guardians.
- Anthony Rizzo has recorded at least one total base in each of his last 10 appearances against the Guardians after not playing the previous day.
- Anthony Rizzo has recorded at least one hit in each of his last 10 appearances against the Guardians after not playing the previous day.
- Jose Trevino has recorded at least one Single in each of his last eight road appearances against AL Central opponents that held a winning record.
- Aaron Judge ranks 1st in the league in Home Runs (58) this season.
Matchup/League Facts
- The Cleveland Guardians rank 2nd in the league for hits allowed this season (1224).
- The Cleveland Guardians rank 3rd in the league for ERA this season (3.61).
- The New York Yankees rank 1st in the league for home runs this season (237).
- The New York Yankees rank 1st in the league for walks this season (672).
Cleveland Guardians vs NY Yankees Prediction
I might take a stab on Cleveland here. The Guardians could get a few offensive opportunities off of Schmidt, which may be enough to power out a Game 3 victory. In his last outing (his first of the 2024 postseason) Schmidt went 4.2 innings with two earned runs on four hits and a walk versus Kansas City. In his playoffs career, Schmidt has an inflated 6.43 ERA and a 1.71 WHIP. The Guardians will certainly have to limit the damage on defense as well, however.
On Tuesday, Cleveland had plenty of opportunities with runners in scoring position but couldn’t capitalize on anything after the fifth inning. The Guardians were still fully in the game up until the seventh inning, when an Aaron Judge home run took the wind out of their proverbial sails. Coming back home to Progressive Field should give Cleveland new life, and Game 3 is almost a must-win game. I think the Guardians will respond with a victory to re-energize themselves in this series.