Update 1:53 p.m. ET: Game 2 of the ALDS between the New York Yankees and Cleveland Guardians was postponed because of rain in the forecast and rescheduled for Friday, 1:07 p.m. ET.
Original column below (published 8:53 a.m. ET)
The Cleveland Guardians and the New York Yankees meet Thursday in Game 2 of a best-of-5 AL Division Series at Yankee Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 7:37 p.m. ET (TBS). Let’s analyze Tipico Sportsbook‘s lines around the Guardians vs. Yankees odds with MLB picks and predictions.
Series: Yankees lead 1-0; won regular-season series 5-1
The Guardians took a 1-0 lead in top of the 3rd in Game 1, but the Yankees tied it in the bottom of the inning, and added 3 more runs in the 5th and 6th inning to post the 4-1 win.
Cleveland has now dropped 7 straight games in the ALDS round, while going 0-5 in the last 5 divisional playoff games on the road. It is also 0-6 in the last 6 playoff road games overall.
New York has been just the opposite, winning 4 of the last 5 in the ALDS round at home, while going 55-21 in the last 76 games overall at Yankee Stadium.
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Guardians at Yankees projected starters
RHP Shane Bieber vs. LHP Nestor Cortes Jr.
Bieber allowed 1 ER, 3 H and 1 BB with 8 K in 7 2/3 IP in a win over the Tampa Bay Rays Friday in the Wild Card round.
- Is 8-3 with a 2.65 ERA with 121 K and a .235 opponent batting average in 119 IP in 18 road outings
- Hasn’t faced the Yankees since April 21, 2021, allowing 2 ER, 4 H and 3 BB with 9 K in 7 IP in a loss in Cleveland
Cortes (12-4, 2.44 ERA) made 28 regular-season starts. He had a 0.92 WHIP, 2.2 BB/9 and 9.3 K/9 in 158 1/3 IP.
- Was 6-1 with a sparkling 1.95 ERA and .161 opponent BA with 89 K and just 5 HR allowed in 87 2/3 IP in 15 home starts
- Went 1-0 with a 2.19 ERA with 14 K, 2 BB and just 4 H allowed across 12 1/3 IP in 2 starts vs. Cleveland in the regular season
Guardians at Yankees odds
Provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 8:26 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Guardians +115 (bet $100 to win $115) | Yankees -140 (bet $140 to win $100)
- Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Guardians +1.5 (-200) | Yankees -1.5 (+150)
- Over/Under (O/U): 6.5 (O: -101 | U: -120)
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Guardians at Yankees picks and predictions
Prediction
Yankees 3, Guardians 1
Moneyline
The YANKEES (-140) are a strong play at home. New York has been money at home in the postseason, while the Guardians (+115) have shown an inability in recent seasons to get it done on the road.
This will be a well-pitched game, as Bieber will have Cleveland it in until the late innings. But Cortes has been amazing at home, and he pitched well against the Guardians in the regular season, too.
Run line/Against the spread
YANKEES -1.5 (+150) is worth playing at least a half-unit, although you might have to sweat it out until the later innings. New York won Game 1 by a 4-1 count, and didn’t secure the cover until the 6th inning. Expect a similar outcome here.
Over/Under
UNDER 6.5 (-120) is the best play on the board. Bieber and Cortes will post plenty of donuts early on, and the runs will be at a premium in Game 2.
The Under is 9-3 in the lst 12 playoff road games for the Guardians, while going 5-1 in the last 6 games overall for the Yankees, and 4-1 in the previous 5 games at home.
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