ALCS Game 5 – New York Yankees at Los Angeles Angels

The New York Yankees (109-60 SU, 93-76 RL, 78-82-9 O/U) at Angel Stadium in Game 5 of their ALCS matchup tonight at 8 PM ET.

The Yankees took a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series with an emphatic 10-1 ‘smackdown’ of the Angels on Tuesday night, cashing in fro BetUS MLB online betting members as -140 road favorites, while the game’s final score played Over the 8-run Over/Under total.

Alex Rodriguez went 3-for-4 with a two-run jack for the Yankees while Melky Cabrera also went 3-for-4 with four RBI to lead the Yankees to victory while left-hander CC Sabathia dominated the Angels for the second time in the series, allowing just one earned run over eight innings for New York.

Kendry Morales hit a solo homer for Los Angeles in a losing effort.

Tonight, the Yankees will hand the ball to veteran right-hander AJ Burnett (13-9, 3.94 ERA) while the Yankees counter with staff ace right-hander John Lackey (12-9, 3.66 ERA).

Here is a look at tonight’s key trends and MLB Odds, followed by my in-depth analysis and expert MLB Free Picks.

• Yankees are 6-1 in their last 7 playoff games.
• Yankees are 1-4 in their last 5 playoff games as an underdog.
• Yankees are 5-0 in Burnett’s last 5 starts.
• Yankees are 4-0 in Burnett’s last 4 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
• Angels are 7-1 in their last 8 games as a home favorite.
• Angels are 4-1 in their last 5 home games vs. a right-handed starter.
• Angels are 1-4 in their last 5 League Championship home games.
• Angels are 6-14 in Lackey’s last 20 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
• Angels are 3-7 in Lackey’s last 10 home starts vs. a team with a winning record.
• Yankees are 5-1 in the last 6 meetings.
• Angels are 5-1 in Lackey’s last 6 home starts vs. Yankees.
• Yankees are 7-18 in the last 25 meetings in Los Angeles.
• Under is 3-1-1 in the last 5 meetings.
• Over is 4-0 in Lackey’s last 4 home starts vs. Yankees.
• Over is 4-1 in Lackey’s last 5 starts vs. Yankees.
• Over is 15-5-1 in the last 21 meetings in Los Angeles.

• New York Yankees +1½ -210
• A.J. Burnett –R Ev
• Los Angeles Angels -1½ -210
• John Lackey –R -120
• Over 8½ -115
• Under 8½ -105
  

The Starters: A.J. Burnett has gone 1-0 over his last three starts with a stellar 2.08 ERA while John Lackey has gone 1-1 with a fine 2.40 ERA over his last three starts.

Analysis: While the New York Yankees have ‘stuck a fork’ in the Los Angeles Angels and have one side fully cooked, I say the Angels hold off being ‘fully cooked’ for at least one more game with John Lackey tossing a gem tonight to give his team a fighting chance.

There is no way the Angels win this series, so let’s not even go there, but the fact of the matter is that L.A. is a very talented ballclub that should be able to win at least one more game. Especially tonight as they will be in total desperation mode coming into tonight’s do-or-die contest. The fact remains that this series has been close for the post part and the Angels have lost two games in this series by one run, in extra innings no less.