The Cleveland Guardians and New York Yankees will finalize their three-game series on Thursday at Yankee Stadium. The game is set to start at 1:10 p.m. ET.
Cleveland (73-52 SU, 63-62 RL, and 60-59-6 O/U) is sending right-hander Gavin Williams to the mound. The 25-year-old has a record of 2-5, along with a 5.02 ERA and a 1.42 WHIP over nine appearances this season.
New York (73-53 SU, 66-60 RL, and 69-52-5 O/U) will respond with ace Gerrit Cole. The 33-year-old righty holds a 4-2 record, a 4.15 ERA, and a 1.37 WHIP after ten starts this year.
*Article published prior to the conclusion of Wednesday’s game.
Cleveland’s Confidence Shines Bright
Cleveland delivered a stunning blow to New York in extra innings on Tuesday, scoring six runs in the 12th frame to seal a thrilling victory. This matchup, featuring two first-place teams, became the longest MLB game of the 2024 season. Can the Guardians maintain their momentum in the series finale?
The Guardians are led by 3B Jose Ramirez, who boasts an .865 OPS and 4.7 WAR, along with 2B Andres Gimenez (3.1 WAR) and LF Steven Kwan (.837 OPS and 3.7 WAR). While Cleveland ranks 16th in OBP (.309) and OPS (.705), they are 14th in home runs (143). Their pitching staff, however, has excelled with a 3.72 ERA, placing them 6th in the league.
Gavin Williams will take the mound for Cleveland on Thursday. He has shown promise in road games, with a 2-1 record and a 2.49 ERA across five starts away from home. Despite a recent four-inning loss to Milwaukee where he allowed five runs, Williams has a solid 47:15 K:BB ratio in 43 innings. Notably, he has never faced the Yankees before.
Yankees Seek Redemption
The Yankees enter Thursday’s game on a three-game losing streak, including two tough losses in late innings. Although they remain just half a game behind Baltimore in the A.L. East, the pressure is on to turn things around quickly. Will New York rediscover its winning form?
New York’s roster features standout players such as CF Aaron Judge (8.6 WAR), RF Juan Soto (7.4 WAR), and SS Anthony Volpe (2.9 WAR). They currently lead the league in OBP (.335) and OPS (.772), while ranking second in home runs with 190. However, their pitching staff has faced challenges, posting a 3.81 ERA (8th) and 1.26 WHIP (16th) this season.
Gerrit Cole will be on the mound for the Yankees, seeking to build on his last start, where he shut out Detroit over six innings, striking out eight batters. As the 2023 A.L. Cy Young winner, Cole’s 1-1 record at Yankee Stadium with a 4.65 ERA in six starts this season may not reflect his true capabilities. He has a strong history against the Guardians, holding a 6-2 record and a 3.07 ERA in ten prior matchups.
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Key Predictions for Cleveland Guardians vs. New York Yankees
Betting Trend: New York is 26-16 (61.9%) in day games this season.
The Yankees are poised for a turnaround, especially with Gerrit Cole showing signs of his former ace self. Since July 6th, he has maintained a 3.46 ERA and a 3.17 FIP, with 49 strikeouts in 39 innings. This includes a challenging outing against the Mets, which he managed to bounce back from.
With a strikeout rate of 26.8 percent, Cole’s pitching is beginning to mirror his impressive performance from last year’s Cy Young season, as he alters his pitch mix to keep batters guessing. Expect him to deliver a strong performance on Thursday.
The Yankees’ batting lineup, featuring sluggers like Judge and Soto, should generate enough runs to secure a victory against Williams, who has seen a dip in performance during the second half of the season (2-4, 5.65 ERA, .274 opponent batting average). Cole is anticipated to outshine the young Guardians pitcher, while the Yankee offense capitalizes on scoring opportunities.
With a favorable schedule ahead, including five consecutive series against teams with losing records, the Yankees aim to conclude their series against Cleveland on a high note. Betting on New York’s money line seems like a wise choice for Thursday’s matchup!
