3 Best Prop Bets for Guardians vs. Yankees in ALDS Game 2 (Back Aaron Judge Prop Again, Fade Austin Hedges)

UPDATE: Game 2 of the ALDS between the New York Yankees and Cleveland Guardians has been postponed until Friday.

The weather may not allow the New York Yankees and Cleveland Guardians to play on Thursday, which would force the teams to play four straight games to close this series (if a Game 4 and 5 are necessary). 

The Yankees grabbed Game 1 behind a great performance from ace Gerrit Cole, but can they do the same against Guardians ace Shane Bieber in Game 2? 

Here are the latest odds:

Guardians vs. Yankees Odds, Run Line and Total

New York beat Bieber in the playoffs back in 2020, but the Guardians ace is still one of the best pitchers in baseball, and this Yankees team has changed substantially since then. 

If you’re looking to bet on more than just the game outcome, you’ve come to the right place. I have three player props to back in this game, including another play for Yankees slugger Aaron Judge. 

Best Prop Bets for Guardians vs. Yankees

• Aaron Judge OVER 0.5 Walks
• Guardians-Yankees No Run First Inning
• Austin Hedges UNDER 0.5 Hits

Aaron Judge OVER 0.5 Walks 

Judge worked a walk and came around to score on an Anthony Rizzo homer in Game 1, and I’m going back to the well with this prop in Game 2. 

Teams have been extra careful pitching to Judge, and rightfully so, as he’s been the best hitter in MLB for essentially the entire 2022 season. In the month of September alone, Judge worked 33 walks in 29 games.

Guardians pitching coach Carl Willis said the team plans to attack Judge, and the Guardians did strike him out a few times in Game 1. Still, the slugger was able to work counts as well. 

“We’re going to attack him with respect,” Willis said. “But we are going to attack him and hopefully not get in situations where he can be -- we don’t want that, but certainly we respect Aaron and the remainder of their lineup.”

Even with Bieber on the mound, I think Judge finds himself on base via the free pass in Game 2. 

Guardians-Yankees No Run First Inning

The Guardians have scored just four runs in three postseason games, all via the long ball, and now they face a tough lefty in Nestor Cortes in Game 2. 

Cleveland ranked 28th in MLB during the regular season in OPS against lefties. Cortes did give up 10 runs in the first innings this season, but I don’t trust this Cleveland offense with a lefty on the bump. 

As for Bieber, he’s been money in first innings, pitching to a 1.74 ERA and allowing just six first inning runs on the season. After the Yankees’ offense got off to a slow start against Cal Quantrill, I expect more of the same against Bieber in Game 2. 

Austin Hedges UNDER 0.5 Hits

Austin Hedges is one of three catchers on the roster for the Guardians, and the broadcast made a point in Game 1 to mention that they could pinch hit for a catcher at any time because of their struggles at the plate. 

Hedges hit .024 over his last 16 games of the regular season, recording just one hit over that stretch, and he’s 0-for-10 this postseason. Not ideal. 

To make matters worse, Hedges hit just .147 against left-handed pitching this season, so Nestor Cortes should have no problem making quick work of him in this lineup.

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.

Find Peter Dewey’s full betting record here.