With home-field advantage, can Carlos Rodon and the Yankees take control of the series?
Carlos Rodon takes the mound for the Yankees, aiming to secure a crucial win against the Cleveland Guardians and Josh Naylor. The Yankees come into Game 5 of the ALCS with a slight advantage, having split the last four games. The Guardians are fighting for survival, determined to push the series to the limit.
Here is an early look at Yankees vs Guardians prediction, picks, and odds.
The Yankees are the favorites (-118) heading into this critical matchup, with Rodon leading the charge. While Cleveland, the underdog (-101), has proven resilient this postseason, New York has the upper hand on the run line (-1.5) and a set total of 7.5 runs.
Carlos Rodon has been a reliable arm for the Yankees this season, and he’ll need to bring his A-game to Cleveland to shut down a Guardians lineup that can be opportunistic with runners on base.
The Yankees have had strong performances at the plate, particularly with Aaron Judge and Juan Soto, both key to their postseason success. Judge has been dominant, hitting 58 home runs this season, and leads the team with a .322 batting average. Juan Soto’s consistency also cannot be overlooked, boasting 41 homers and 129 walks.
Cleveland, on the other hand, will rely on José Ramírez and Josh Naylor to keep their season alive. Ramírez has been a powerhouse for the Guardians, leading with 39 home runs, while Naylor contributes with 31. Cleveland’s pitching has kept them competitive, but their offense has been inconsistent in recent games.
For bets, consider the Yankees covering the -1.5 run line, given their power-hitting lineup and Rodon’s performance on the mound. With both teams’ pitching staffs performing well, the total points line of 7.5 might lean toward an “under” play in a tight, low-scoring affair.
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