Deciding Game Pushed Back by Rain
The New York Yankees and Cleveland Guardians got an unexpected extra day of rest after rain postponed Monday’s winner-take-all Game 5 of their American League Division Series. The teams collide on Tuesday afternoon at Yankee Stadium with the winner advancing to play the Houston Astros in the AL Championship Series.
Harrison Bader, who had 46 at-bats during the regular season for New York, hit his third home run of this postseason on Sunday in Game 4 in Cleveland to help keep the Yankees’ season alive with a 4-2 victory.
The 28-year-old outfielder was acquired via trade with the St. Louis Cardinals for Jordan Montgomery before going on the 60-day disabled list and doing a rehab stint in the minor leagues. He rejoined the Yankees on Sept. 20 and didn’t hit a home run during the regular season, but his third blast in four postseason games helped to make a winner of Gerrit Cole.
Bader, who tied former Yankees’ Bernie Williams (1996) and Paul O’Neill (1995) for the second most home runs in a five-game series, had a career-high 16 home runs with St. Louis in 2021. Giancarlo Stanton had four home runs in the 2020 ALDS.
Let’s check the latest MLB odds, stats, injury reports, and MLB lines, for Guardians vs Yankees. We’ve plenty of MLB spreads for you to consider.
Guardians Have Best Relief Arms Rested
The Guardians will have their best relief pitchers available for Game 5 as Trevor Stephan, James Karinchak, and closer Emmanuel Clase have not pitched since Friday’s Game 2.
Clase, who has a win and a save this postseason, had 42 saves to go along with a 1.36 ERA and 0.73 WHIP during the regular season. He has yet to allow a run during the postseason.
Stephan, a second-year player who has thrown three perfect innings in the playoffs, was 6-5 with three saves, 19 holds and a 2.69 ERA during the regular season.
Cleveland, which hasn’t won the World Series since 1948, is 1-7 in winner-take-all games.
Aaron Civale, who won his last three starts of the regular season, was initially scheduled to start Monday’s game. The washout gives Indians manager Terry Francona the option of bringing back Game 2 starter Shane Bieber on short rest.
Bieber, who was 13-8 with a 2.88 ERA during the regular season, limited the Yankees to two runs and five hits while striking out seven over 5.2 innings on Friday. Francona and the Indians will not disclose their starter until Tuesday morning.
“You know if you would have told me back in March, we just signed up to play Game 5 in New York to go to the ALCS, I would have jogged to New York,” Francona, who guided the Boston Red Sox to two World Series titles, told the media. “I’m excited.”
Cortes Gets Start for Yankees
With the game postponed Monday, the Yankees changed their scheduled starting pitcher from right-hander Jameson Taillon to left-hander Nestor Cortes, who will be going on three days’ rest.
The 27-year-old made his postseason debut Friday, taking a no decision after allowing six hits and two earned runs over five innings in a game the Guardians won 4-2 in 10 innings.
Cortes has been a much better pitcher this season at Yankee Stadium, going 6-1 with a 1.95 ERA compared to 6-3 and a 3.06 ERA in road games. He defeated the Guardians during the regular season with 6.1 innings of one-hit, two-run ball.
“I’m ready to go. I am going to empty the tank,” Cortes, who was 12-4 during the regular season, told the media. “I’m going to try to prepare the best I can to feel as best as I can.”
Cleveland’s Jose Ramirez and Myles Straw are a combined 0-for-15 with five strikeouts against Cortes, who posted a 0.92 WHIP during the regular season.
Guardians vs Yankees Game Injuries
Guardians vs Yankees Head-to-Head
The Yankees improved to 7-3 against the Guardians in 2022, and 14-12 in the postseason.
New York is 4-1 at home this season versus Cleveland, including a win in Game 1.
Home teams in all winner-take-all postseason games are 61-63, including 0-1 this season, while teams that won Game 4 to stay alive went on to win Game 5 in 26 of 47 opportunities.
Guardians vs Yankees Game Information
- Game: Guardians vs Yankees
- Location: Yankee Stadium, New York
- Day/Time: Tuesday, Oct. 18, 4:07 p.m. ET
- Guardians vs Yankees Live stream: MLB.tv
Take a Look at Other Analysis, Picks & Predictions for Yankees vs Guardians
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Guardians vs Yankees Betting Lines
Team |
Run Line
|
Moneyline | Total | Team Total |
Cleveland Guardians
A. Civale -R |
+1½ -160 | +145 | 7-105 | 2½-135
2½+105 |
New York Yankees
N. Cortes -L |
-1½ +140 | -165 | 7-115 | 3½-120
3½-110 |
The odds in this chart are based on the time of publication. They are subject to change.
Guardians vs Yankees Prediction
If Civale does take the ball for the Guardians, it will mark his first appearance in the postseason. While the 27-year-old right-hander finished 5-6 in the regular season, he was battered in a pair of starts against the Yankees, giving up 10 earned runs in nine innings.
Civale is 1-3 in his career against New York. He only needs to give the Guardians four good innings before handing it off to relievers. Bieber has allowed three runs over 13.1 innings in two starts this postseason.
The odds and predictions in the article are based on the time of writing and publication. They may differ as to when the actual event takes place.