Aaron Judge will be looking to extend his 34-game on-base streak as the New York Yankees (+165) host the Cleveland Guardians (-195) at Yankee Stadium on Thursday in Game 2 of their American League Divisional Playoffs series with the home team looking to extend their advantage. Expect a pitchers’ duel with the early total at 6.5 (O: +100 | U: -120). The Yankees (100-63) took Tuesday’s series opener 4-1, their sixth head-to-head victory in seven games this season. Gerrit Cole went 6.1 innings for the win, allowing one run on four hits and striking out eight. Harrison Bader went 1 for 3 with a solo home run in the win. Steven Kwan was 2 for 4 with a solo home run for the Guardians (94-71).
ON THE MOUND
Shane Bieber (14-8, 2.88 ERA) is slated to take the mound for Cleveland. The RHP allowed one run over 7.2 innings in his last start, a 2-1 home win over the Rays on Friday. He got the win, scattering three hits while striking out eight and walking one. Bieber is making his first appearance against the Yankees this season. Bieber made one start against the Yankees in 2021, a 2-1 home loss on April 24. He surrendered two runs on four hits over seven innings, striking out nine and walking three. Southpaw Nestor Cortes (12-4, 2.44 ERA) gets the ball for New York. He has made two appearances against the Guardians this season, both starts, giving up three runs over 12.1 innings (1-0, 2.19) with 14 strikeouts and two walks. In his last start on October 1, Cortes got the win at home against the Orioles. He threw 7.1 scoreless innings and gave up one hit, striking out 12 and walking two in the 8-0 victory.
AT THE PLATE
Over the last five games, Cleveland has averaged 3.6 runs a game, a small drop compared to their season average of 4.3. Against left-handed pitchers like Cortes this season, the Guardians have a .646 OPS, third lowest in the league. Andres Gimenez is the team’s strongest performer against left-handers with a .887 OPS in 113 at-bats. New York is averaging only 3.2 runs per game in the last five, down from 5.0 for the season, with their slash line slipping across the board (.208/.302/.409). The Yanks have a .745 OPS against right-handers in 2022, fifth highest in MLB. With a 1.142 OPS over 435 at-bats, Judge has been their best hitter against right-handers.
HOME AND AWAY
Cleveland is 46-36 on the road in 2022, scoring 4.6 runs per game while allowing 3.9 runs. New York has gone 58-24 at their home park this season, averaging 5.2 runs per game while surrendering 3.2. New York is 7-3 in the last 10 games at Yankee Stadium between the teams with an average scoreline of 4.8-4.5.
STANDINGS UPDATE
The Guardians won the AL Central. The Yankees finished first in the AL East.
SportsTips’ MLB Pick:
Cleveland Guardians (+115)
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
