Yankees vs. Guardians Game 5: Pitchers, Time, Odds, Prediction For MLB Playoffs
The ALDS between the New York Yankees and Cleveland Guardians comes down to a deciding Game 5 Monday night in the Bronx. After staving off elimination from the 2022 MLB playoffs Sunday in Cleveland, New York is favored to win the series at home and punch its ticket to the ALCS.
Game 5 starts at 7:07 p.m. ET on TBS at Yankee Stadium. The Yankees have -162 odds at FanDuel Sportsbook to beat the Guardians, which are +136 underdogs.
Neither Game 5 starting pitcher has ever made a playoff start. Aaron Civale will get the ball for the Guardians. The Yankees are set to go with Jameson Taillon. Both pitchers are likely to be on a short leash.
Civale went 5-6 with a 4.92 ERA in the regular season. In two regular-season starts against the Yankees, the right-hander gave up 10 runs over nine innings.
Taillon had a 3.91 ERA in the regular-season. He took the loss against Cleveland in Game 3, giving up three hits without recording an out in relief. Domingo German, who had a 3.61 ERA as the Yankees' No. 5 starter, could play an important role for New York out of the bullpen.
Cleveland has more weapons available out of the bullpen. Closer Emmanuel Clase and his 1.36 ERA haven't pitched since Friday. James Karinchak had a 2.08 ERA during the season and also has rested in each of the last two games. Ace Shane Bieber could be available for an inning of relief.
The Yankees' ace likely can't pitch, considering Gerrit Cole won Game 4 in a two-run, 110-pitch effort, Wandy Peralta has become New York's most reliable reliever, but he's pitched three days in a row. Nestor Cortes could get some outs for the Yankees, following his Game 2 start.
New York was the better team over 162 games, finishing seven games ahead of Cleveland in the standings. The Yankees scored more runs and gave up fewer runs than the Guardians. Aaron Judge gives New York the best player in the series.
Cleveland swept the Tampa Bay Rays in the wild-card round. In six playoff games this year, the Guardians haven't scored more than three runs over the first eight innings of any contest. In five of those games, the Guardians have been held to two runs or fewer through nine innings.
The Yankees haven't been trailing at the start of the ninth inning in any game during the ALDS. The Guardians snapped a 2-2 tie in the 10th inning of Game 2 with a pair of bloop hits and sloppy defense by the Yankees. In Game 3, New York blew its first multi-run, ninth-inning lead in franchise playoff history.
As the better team at home in a do-or-die game, the Yankees should find a way to win and keep their championship hopes alive.
Prediction: Yankees over Guardians, 4-3
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