Los Angeles Dodgers vs. New York Yankees: Odds, Prediction
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Kevin Tompkins
While the New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies kicked off the season’s unofficial second half with a game on Thursday evening, the rest of baseball resumes today. Friday is perhaps highlighted by a rematch of the 2024 World Series, pitting the Los Angeles Dodgers (61-36) against the New York Yankees (54-42) for a three-game set at Yankee Stadium.
Before first pitch at 7:05 p.m. ET, let’s go over the betting angles, review both teams and then make a prediction for the game.
The game is listed as a pick’em on the MLB odds, with the total set at 9.0.
MLB Betting Odds and Trends
A Dodgers downturn and a Yankees upswing have one thing in common: a lack of runs. The game total has gone under in six of the last nine games for Los Angeles, and for the Yankees, the under has cashed in four of their last five. Playing an under on an inflated total of 9.0 runs is a way to play it for this game, but with two excellent offences that can blow up at any time, it’s a volatile bet. I’m looking toward team-based wagers tonight rather than any game totals or run lines.
Los Angeles Dodgers
In the last series before the All-Star break, the Dodgers were swept by the Arizona Diamondbacks in pretty convincing fashion, scoring just seven runs in three games. Before that, the Dodgers were 16-6 in their previous 22 games. They are the best team in baseball for a good reason. With four players not only over 15 home runs but with an .800 OPS or higher, the Dodgers are stacked offensively. Shohei Ohtani (.953 OPS, 22 HR), Andy Pages (.807 OPS, 17 HR), Freddie Freeman (.862 OPS, 15 HR) and Max Muncy (.842 OPS, 17 HR) lead this offence. Imagine if they can get more out of big-ticket free agent Kyle Tucker (0.9 WAR, .716 OPS) or Mookie Betts (.709 OPS, 11 HR, 1.6 WAR)? The offence would be nearly unstoppable.
The pitching trio of Ohtani, Justin Wrobleski and Yoshinobu Yamamoto boats an ERA below 2.85 and nearly a 3.0 WAR from each player. They’ve anchored the starting rotation among injuries and ineffectiveness elsewhere. Los Angeles will get some reinforcements, though, as Tyler Glasnow recently pitched a bullpen session, plus Edwin Diaz and Blake Snell are either making rehab appearances (Diaz) or about to start one (Snell) in the coming days. The best in baseball are getting healthier, so watch out.
New York Yankees
After a brutal stretch that saw the Yankees go 6-14 over the last month, they closed the season’s first half on a four-game winning streak with a win to help salvage a series with the Tampa Bay Rays and a three-game sweep in Washington against the Nationals. The Yankees have been absolutely carried by All-Star Ben Rice, who has an eight-game hitting streak and has hits in 11 of his last 12 games, along with seven home runs and 15 RBI. Cody Bellinger, the Yankees’ other All-Star, has a five-game hitting streak and a 1.033 OPS in his last four games.
While the hitting has been up and down for the Bronx Bombers, it’s the pitching that has propelled their recent success. Cam Schlittler has a 2.05 ERA and is a Cy Young frontrunner. Gerrit Cole, Friday’s starter, has been inconsistent across his nine starts with a 3-4 record and an ERA slightly above 4.00 but has bounced back with a 3.97 ERA in July after a 6.12 ERA in five June starts. As long as the Yankees tread water and stay in contention, they’ll be a force once Aaron Judge returns.
MLB Prediction: Who Will Win Dodgers vs. Yankees?
This matchup between the Dodgers and the Yankees has the visiting team sending out Roki Sasaki to the mound, who has struggled recently. The Yankees are looking to carry the momentum of their four-game winning streak and will send out Cole to the bump. Against the shaky Sasaki, we’ll take the Yankees at home to keep things going in a positive direction.
Best Bet: New York Yankees ML (-105)
LAD
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