Top MLB Picks and Predictions Today (Can Guardians Complete Upset on Sunday?)
By Peter Dewey
The New York Yankees and Cleveland Guardians are the only teams left in the Division Series, and Cleveland has a chance to close out the series on Sunday with a win in Game 4.
Following a walk-off win on Saturday night, the Guardians have a ton of momentum heading into this matchup, even though the Yankees have ace Gerrit Cole on the mound.
Here are a couple of ways I am betting on this matchup:
New York Yankees vs. Cleveland Guardians Odds, Prediction and Pick
Even with Gerrit Cole on the mound in this game, I don’t trust the Yankees in multiple aspects to pull off a road win in Game 4. How could you after the way they've played, especially on offense, in the last two games?
The Yankees have not looked good at the plate, with their top six hitters in the lineup going 1-for-23 in Game 3 (Aaron Judge’s two-run homer was the only hit).
Cleveland, on the other hand, has come up with several timely hits in Games 2 and 3, and the team continues to put the ball in play and force the Yankees into mistakes on defense. As for the bullpens, the Guardians should have closer Emmanuel Clase ready to go after he closed out Game 2, and the Yankees are probably without Loaisiga and Peralta, their two best middle relievers.
Cole is going to need to shove in this game for New York, but his home run issues lately give me some serious worries about how this game could pan out. Cleveland let Quantrill pitch too long into Game 1, but I doubt Terry Francona makes the same mistake in Game 4 with a chance to win the series.
Unless New York finds a way to score without hitting a home run, this team is too volatile to trust on the road. Give me the Guardians to close things out in Game 4.
Best MLB Prop Bet for Gerrit Cole in Yankees vs. Guardians
Gerrit Cole OVER 18.5 Outs Recorded
The Yankees desperately need another elite performance from Cole, who threw 6.1 innings of one-run ball in Game 1, striking out eight Guardians.
The Yankees’ bullpen is taxed, as Wandy Peralta and Jonathan Loaisiga have pitched in every game in this series and Clarke Schmidt has now thrown in back-to-back contests.
I don’t think Yankees manager Aaron Boone has much confidence in the other arms in New York’s pen, which means the Yankees may be inclined to let Cole go as long as he possibly can with the season on the line. New York has not used several relievers at all this postseason despite Nestor Cortes and Luis Severino failing to get through six innings in their starts.
Cole has cleared 18.5 outs in just three of his last seven starts, but this is a whole different story in a playoff game.
Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.
Find Peter Dewey’s full betting record here.