Game 4 – DET Leads 2-1
It’s win or go home for the Guardians on Friday after they were shut out 3-0 in Game 3.
Tanner Bibee is back on the mound on five days’ rest after throwing in Game 1, a strong four-inning shutout that paved the way for Cleveland’s opening victory.
The second-year righty is the Guards’ true ace atop the rotation, but if he fails to last at least five innings, I think things could get a little dicey for the visitors.
Emmanuel Clase, one of the game’s best closers, is no doubt going to make an appearance, but it’s worth noting Cleveland used both Tim Herrin and Cade Smith in setup roles last night.
The Tigers remain a mystery as they lean heavily on their bullpen, but I wouldn’t be surprised if we see some Tarik Skubal for an inning or two, as well as Reese Olson.
This entire series has boiled down to either team scoring early and falling back heavily on their bullpen. With fresher arms and guys like Kerry Carpenter swinging a hot bat, I think it’s advantage Detroit in what will go down as one of the biggest upsets in Postseason history.
- Tip: Back the Tigers to Win @ $1.94
- Player Pick: Tanner Bibee Over 5.5 Strikeouts
Game 4 – NYY Leads 2-1
The series swings back around to Gerrit Cole facing Michael Wacha, a repeat of the opening matchup that saw the Yankees win 6-5.
New York pulled off a similar narrow victory last night thanks to the bat of Giancarlo Stanton, while the Royals blew a late chance in the eighth inning after Salvador Perez found himself on base with two outs.
Both Cole and Wacha gave up three runs each in Game 1, but even if he gives up hits to MJ Melendez and Tommy Pham again, the Yankees can rest easy knowing they are loaded with depth to fill in down the stretch.
With the series on the line, you can expect to see Luis Gil and maybe more from Clay Holmes down the stretch, while the Royals simply lack the Royals could potentially throw Cole Ragans back into the fray before turning to Brady Singer.
This should be a fascinating game that could potentially go down to the wire, but on talent and depth, the Yankees are the clear cut winners.
- Tip: Back the Yankees to Win @ $1.64, Royals Over 3.5 Runs @ $2.02