New York is favored on the MLB odds with Gerrit Cole to force Game 6 against the Dodgers

It’s the final home game for the New York Yankees this season on Wednesday night as they try to extend the World Series again, trailing the Los Angeles Dodgers 3-1 after avoiding a sweep on Tuesday.

New York is favored on the MLB odds behind Gerrit Cole to force Game 6 on Friday back in L.A.

Los Angeles Dodgers +130

The Dodgers got off to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first in Game 4 on Tuesday thanks to yet another home run from Freddie Freeman, who became the first player to ever homer in the first four games of the World Series. Freeman also set a record with a sixth straight World Series game with a homer dating to his time with the Braves a few years ago.

However, L.A. was routed 11-4. Daniel Hudson allowed four runs and took the loss. Hudson gave up two hits, walked one and struck out one. He was the first reliever out of the bullpen after Ben Casparius began the bullpen game for the Dodgers.

Will Smith

Smith homered in the fifth inning to bring the Dodgers within a pair of runs at 5-3 before New York’s Austin Wells hit on a solo shot in the bottom of the sixth inning to make it 6-4. It was only the fifth game in World Series history in which a catcher from each club hit a home run. Each club hit multiple home runs, marking the 41st time in World Series history that each team homered at least twice in a game.

Will Smith goes oppo! #WorldSeries pic.twitter.com/oXzjVbk4vU

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) October 30, 2024

Jack Flaherty

It’s right-hander Flaherty on the mound tonight. Flaherty held the Yankees to two runs in 5 2/3 innings in a no-decision against the Yankees in Game 1 of the World Series last Friday. In his previous postseason start, Flaherty was shelled for eight runs over three innings. In Game 1, Flaherty struck out six, walked one, and showed the secondary stuff that was necessary to get this New York lineup out. He also had to push through some hamstring soreness the deeper into the game he got.

The postseason has been a mixed bag for Flaherty. He was dominant in Game 1 of the NLCS against the Mets, but he was torched in Game 5 and wasn’t consistent in the NLDS. Flaherty has a career 4.73 ERA in the postseason over eight starts, a mark that has worsened slightly this October. Flaherty threw six shutout innings in his only career regular season start against the Yankees last year, allowing two hits and striking out four.

The Record

The Dodgers hold a 3-1 lead in the World Series for the third time after previously sitting at 3-1 in 1988 against Oakland (4-1 series win); and 1959 against Chicago (4-2 series win). Teams with a 3-0 series lead have won the World Series in Game 4 21 times, with the four exceptions being the Dodgers in 2024 against the Yankees; the Orioles in 1970 against the Reds; the Yankees in 1937 against the Giants; and the Athletics in 1910 against the Cubs. All three previous clubs went on to win the World Series in Game 5.

It is the 51st time that the World Series has sat at 3-1, with the winner of Game 5 in those series going on to win the World Series 35 times (70.0%). Overall, the winner of Game 5 has gone on to win the World Series 67 times (68.4%).

New York Yankees -151

Of the 41 teams to fall behind 3-0 in a best-of-seven postseason series, the Yankees are only the 10th to even avoid a sweep. Of the previous nine to do so, four managed to force a Game 6 and two forced a Game 7, although neither example occurred in the World Series. The Yankees are the first team to force a Game 5 when down 3-0 in a World Series since the Reds in 1970 against the Orioles. With Tuesday’s 11-4 win, the Yanks avoided becoming the first team to get swept in the World Series since the 2012 Tigers and the first Yankee team to do so since 1976.

Anthony Volpe

The big hit Tuesday was an Volpe grand slam. After being visibly upset with himself for not scoring on Austin Wells’ double in the second, he got a chance at redemption in the third — as the game so often provides. He delivered the ninth World Series grand slam in Yankees history — seven more than any other team and the sixth MLB-wide this postseason — setting a record for a single playoffs.

Will Smith goes oppo! #WorldSeries pic.twitter.com/oXzjVbk4vU

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) October 30, 2024

Volpe added an eighth-inning double to spark a five-run frame, and had two stolen bases as well. He became the second player with multiple extra-base hits and stolen bases in a World Series game, joining Eddie Collins, who did so twice in 1910. Volpe also became the first Yankee with a grand slam and multiple stolen bases in a game, regular season or postseason, since Mickey Mantle on Aug. 19, 1962.

Juan Soto

Soto reached base twice, via a walk and knocking a single in the eighth inning. Dating back to Game 2 of the NL Wild Card Series with San Diego in 2022, Soto has reached base in each of his last 24 postseason games. His current on-base streak is tied for the fifth-longest streak in postseason history. The record is 31 in a row by Miguel Cabrera from 2011-13. During the streak, Soto is batting .292/.396/.551 (26-for-89) with six homers, 16 RBI, five doubles, 15 walks, 17 runs scored, a stolen base and a .947 OPS.

Gerrit Cole

It’s ace right-hander Cole on the mound for Game 5. Cole allowed one run in six innings in a no-decision in Game 1 of the World Series. Cole and Jack Flaherty were both excellent in the first game of the series, battling zero-for-zero for the first four frames. Cole finally gave up a run after a triple by Enrique Hernandez — on a play that Juan Soto could have made — and a sacrifice fly from Will Smith. Cole looked outstanding, but the Yankees didn’t do enough offensively to make it matter.

This postseason, he is 1-0 with a 2.82 ERA in four starts, though he has not exceeded 89 pitches in any of those outings. Cole’s career postseason ERA is 2.91 with 150 strikeouts over 21 starts. Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani has taken Cole deep once in 23 at-bats, including the postseason. He only has four hits against the Yankees ace and has struck out eight times in 24 plate appearances.

How to Watch Dodgers at Yankees

When: Wednesday, 8:08 PM ET
Where: Yankee Stadium
Pitchers (away/home): Jack Flaherty/Gerrit Cole
TV: FOX
Stream/gameday audio: Fox Sports Live

MLB Betting Center

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Updated MLB Odds | Sportsbook Online

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