In an American League battle pitting two playoff hopefuls against each other, the Cleveland Guardians travel east to Yankee Stadium to link up with the New York Yankees for a three-game set.

The Yankees are surging and nipping at the heels of the Tampa Bay Rays as the Bronx Bombers are just 1.5 games back from Tampa. Meanwhile, the Guardians have the top spot in the AL Central, but have dropped their last two and have the Chicago White Sox in the rear-view mirror on a five-game winning streak.

Tuesday’s opening game should be a good one, so let’s break it all down and provide our best bet.

New York is a -250 favourite to win on the MLB odds, with the total set at 7.5.

Betting Analysis

Don’t look now, but the Yankees are scoring runs in baseball games. It seems wild, considering the multiple-week hitting slump which saw them go 4-10 in the previous 14 games before peeling off wins in five of their last six games against the Tampa Bay Rays, Kansas City Royals and Athletics leading up to this series. It’s no surprise that the over has been the play for the Yankees, as they’ve gone over in four of their last five.

As for the Guardians, they’ve lost four of their last six games and have averaged 2.4 runs over that stretch. They’ve just not been scoring runs, even in their wins. That doesn’t bode well against a hot-hitting Yankees club at home.

Cleveland Guardians

The Guardians have gotten across-the-board production from everybody in their lineup, but Jose Ramirez is still one of the best in baseball at the hot corner. Add in talented youngsters Chase DeLauter and top prospect Travis Bazzana, and the core for the Guardians is well-positioned to make a run this season. At least the Guardians’ pitching has been solid, with the seventh-highest ERA in baseball (3.74). The one-two punch of Gavin Williams and Parker Messick has combined for an ERA under 2.60 on the season, with 14 wins.

New York Yankees

The Yankees are hitting. Well, Ben Rice is hitting. Rice has a .992 OPS, with three home runs and 14 RBI in his last 15 games. In his last five games, Rice has 11 of those RBI. Tack on a re-energized Anthony Volpe, who has hits in six of his last 10 games, and the Yankees are finally plating some runs. Add that to the excellent pitching they’ve gotten, and the Bronx Bombers are back. While they are a streaky bunch, their pitching has carried them all season. Early American League Cy Young favourite Cam Schlittler has been awesome, and in Gerrit Cole’s two starts this season, he hasn’t given up an earned run through 12 ⅔ innings.

MLB Prediction: Who Will Win Guardians vs. Yankees?

The Guardians will send out lefty Joey Cantillo, who is 4-2 with a 3.57 ERA in 12 starts, while the Yankees counter with Cam Schlittler, who sports a 7-2 record with a sparkling 1.50 ERA in 12 starts. Schlittler hasn’t given up more than three runs in a start this season, and against a Guardians’ offence that hasn’t put up a lot of runs lately, it seems like a pretty bad combination for Cleveland. 

For Tuesday’s game, we’ll go with the Yankees and Schlittler at home to take the opening game of the series at Yankee Stadium.

Best Bet: Over 7.5 (-110)

GUARDIANS

Away

3

YANKEES

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