It’s a matchup of 2018 playoff teams on Friday night in a series opener as the New York Yankees begin a weekend set at the Cleveland Guardians. The Yanks appear headed back to the postseason, but the disappointing Indians have a big hole to climb ou
How to Bet Yankees vs Indians MLB Odds & Game Info
- When: Friday, 7:05 PM ET
- Where: Progressive Field
- Probable pitchers (away/home): Domingo German/Zach Plesac
- TV: MLB Network
- Stream: MLB.tv
- Radio: New York / Cleveland
- Opening MLB Lines: Yankees -125, Indians +115 (total 9)
Why Bet on NY Yankees?
The Yankees have won nine consecutive series (since 5/3), their longest winning streak since a nine-series winning streak from 7/20-8/20/98. Their last longer streak was a 10-series winning streak from 6/22-7/22/54. They are 13-1 in their last 14 series (since 4/16) after going 1-4 in their first five.
The Yankees are expected to activate starting shortstop Didi Gregorius and have him in the lineup Friday night for the first time this season. He has been out following Tommy John surgery last season. As the designated hitter Wednesday night at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Gregorius collected two hits in four at-bats. Gregorius is slashing .156/.206/.250 during an eight-game minor league rehab stint (5-for-32, one home run, one walk, two RBI, four Ks) which began with two games at Class A Tampa.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone said the initial plan when Gregorius returns is to give him a day off per series. The Yankees want to keep the shortstop fresh while also getting his bat and glove in the lineup. Boone also said that Gio Urshela will handle most of the third base duties, and that Gleyber Torres and DJ Lemahieu will rotate around the infield.
“You figure Didi is initially playing two out of three, three out of four as we continue to build up. You can plug in the math from there. Gleyber plays a day at short, a day off every six or seven days for a guy, you start having the moving parts. Maybe we get Luke (Voit) a day and play DJ there at first,” Boone said.
The Yankees lead the AL and rank second in the Majors with an 80.0 percent stolen base success rate (28-for-35), trailing only Arizona (88.6%, 31-for-35).
New York starter Domingo German (9-1) gave up three runs on six hits and two walks over 3.2 innings in Saturday’s win over the Red Sox. He struck out eight but did not qualify for the victory. German labored for his second consecutive start as he threw 87 pitches Saturday and was unable to complete the fourth inning. The 26-year-old has a 3.66 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 71:18 K:BB through 11 starts.
Team Statistics
Offense:
- Runs: 5.33
- Hits: 8.70
- Walks: 3.63
- Strike Outs: 8.75
Defense:
- Runs: 4.15
- Hits: 7.90
- Walks: 3.13
- Strike Outs: 9.50
Why Bet on Cleveland?
Carlos Santana has reached base safely in 39 of his last 85 plate appearances since May 14, batting .314 (22-70) with 5 doubles, 6 home runs and 19 walks, posting a 1.132 OPS, the 3rd-best mark in the American League over that stretch. Santana ranks 5th in the AL in walks (40) and T5th in OBP (.402).
Oscar Mercado has collected 15 hits through his first 16 career MLB games, the most by a Cleveland batter through 16 contests since Jason Kipnis had 18 hits through 16 games in 2011. Mercado’s 13 runs scored through his first 16 career games are the most by an Indians player since Kipnis (15) in 2011.
The Indians’ rotation is a mess with Corey Kluber, Mike Clevinger and Carlos Carrasco all on the injured list. Kluber and Clevinger have been there for weeks, while Carrasco just joined them. Carrasco who was slated to make Wednesday’s start against the Twins, was placed on it due to a blood condition not sustained on the field. He’s out indefinitely.
Carrasco, who signed a $47 million, four-year contract in December, was placed on the 10-day injured list retroactive to June 2. He is 4-6 with a 4.98 ERA in 12 starts this season and has played his entire 10-season big league career in Cleveland with an 83-68 record in 219 appearances (183 starts).
Clevinger (back) began a minor league rehab assignment Thursday with Triple-A Columbus. Clevinger has been out since April 8 with an upper back strain and so he’ll probably require at least a couple of starts on the farm to get properly stretched out for major league competition. Clevinger, 28, had racked up 22 strikeouts over 12 scoreless innings (two starts) before hitting the 10-day and then 60-day injured list.
Because of all the rotation questions, it’s not 100 percent who the Tribe will start here but it likely will be rookie Zack Plesac (0-1). Plesac last took the mound Sunday against the White Sox, so he’ll be on his normal amount of rest for Friday’s start. The 24-year-old has held his own through a pair of starts with the big club thus far, compiling a 1.46 ERA, 0.81 WHIP and 9:2 K:BB in 12.1 innings of work.
Team Statistics
Offense:
- Runs: 4.07
- Hits: 7.36
- Walks: 3.80
- Strike Outs: 8.56
Defense:
- Runs: 4.25
- Hits: 8.02
- Walks: 2.77
- Strike Outs: 9.36
Yankees vs Indians MLB Betting Trends
- Yankees are 8-2 in the last 10 meetings.
- Over is 3-1-2 in the last 6 meetings in Cleveland.
- Over is 3-1-1 in the last 5 meetings.
- Indians are 1-4 in their last 5 during game 1 of a series.
Expert MLB Prediction for Yankees vs Indians
Yankees 6, Indians 5
