Daily MLB Tips – World Series Game 5

Daily MLB Tips – World Series Game 5

Ryan Cook
Los Angeles Dodgers @ New York Yankees, 10:10am
Tip: Back the Yankees to Win @ $1.72 

Game 5 – LAD Leads 3-1 

The Yankees extended the series yesterday with a blowout 11-4 win, much to the delight of a cantankerous and restless Bronx crowd. 

The stage is set for New York to really pile on the pressure and shift the series back to Los Angeles, and it will start on the mound with righty ace Gerrit Cole making his second World Series start in just four days.  

The reigning Cy Young Award winner tossed six strong innings in the opener, allowing just one run, zero walks, and striking out four before the bullpen blew the game in extra innings. 

On the opposite side stands Jack Flaherty, the Dodgers’ midseason trade acquisition hoping to build on his own Game 1 performance that saw him allow just two earned runs across 5.1 innings.  

Giving up double-digit runs wasn’t commonplace for Los Angeles during the regular season, and it’s worth noting they played to a 6-5 record in their very next game – four of those wins coming on the road. 

Freddie Freeman going yard for a sixth straight World Series game is a story in itself, but as has been the case all year, once you get through the top half of the Dodgers lineup, things tail off in a hurry.  

Cole mowing through Freeman, Mookie Betts, and Teoscar Hernandez would go a long way to stretching this series even further, while it’s encouraging to see some of the Yankees’ lesser-known role players like Anthony Volpe and Austin Wells going yard. 

Aside from snatching foul balls from Betts’ glove, the Bronx crowd will play a big part in this one, and it just feels as though the Yankees might have gained some important momentum. 

Home Run Bets 

Let’s have a couple of home run bets with so many guys going yard.  

Shohei Ohtani is less than 100 per cent and still clutching his shoulder, but that hasn’t stopped him stepping into the batter’s box and running the bases.  

He’s yet to leave his mark on this series, but keep in mind he did rip a 113 MPH double off Yankees receiver Tommy Kahnle in Game 1.  

On the other side, let’s bet Giancarlo Stanton, who hit a towering, 412ft homer off Flaherty that registered 116 MPH off the end of the bat. 

  • Tip: Shohei Ohtani, Giancarlo Stanton to Hit a Home Run  

 

Bet now: Dodgers v Yankees

Daily MLB Tips – World Series Game 4

Ryan Cook
Los Angeles Dodgers @ New York Yankees, 10:08am  
Tip: Back the Yankees to Win @ $1.75 

Game 4 – Dodgers Lead 3-0  

The Dodgers have one hand on the Commissioner’s Trophy and one hand on the brooms heading into Game 4.  

Home runs have been aplenty during this Goliath v Goliath matchup, but this series has largely been disappointing so far with the Yankees failing to live up to their end of the deal.  

Game 3 in the Bronx last night started with a two-run Freddie Freeman homer before Mookie Betts and Kike Hernandez tacked on in the third and sixth inning, while the Yankees squandered opportunity after opportunity with Giancarlo Stanton being thrown out the plate, and Aaron Judge failing to record a hit.  

New York has done a poor job of locating pitches when the Dodger arms make a mistake, making for frustrating viewing for Aaron Boone and any Yankees fan watching at home.  

On the rubber, Clarke Schmidt failed to three innings, and although Luis Gil has been the bright spot in the Yanks’ rotation for most of the year, it’s hard to expect much given he gave up a pair of runs in four frames against the Guardians during the ALCS.  

The Dodgers haven’t named a starter as I write, potentially opting for a bullpen first approach with a chance at wrapping up the series.  

Overall, it feels like nothing but doom and gloom coming from the Bronx, and this is all happening without Shohei Ohtani doing much at the plate.  

As I wrote yesterday, names like Judge and Anthony Volpe need to find their stride in the batter’s box, but if the Yankees are to extend this series back to Los Angeles, maybe it will take some magic from veterans like Anthony Rizzo or Alex Verdugo to get the job done. 

Fortunately, Verdugo provided a very faint pulse in the bottom of the ninth last night with a two-run homer to prevent a shutout, some minor (very minor) momentum the home side might be able to build on.  

Home Run Bets 

We tipped Teoscar Hernandez to go yard in Game 1, and although that bet didn’t come off, he did take one deep in Game 2.  

Hernandez has been a lynchpin for the Dodgers in the three-hole during the Postseason, and it wouldn’t be surprising if he sends another ball into orbit after taking Luis Gil deep earlier in his career – a hit that registered 101 MPH off the bat. 

  • Tip: Teoscar Hernandez to Hit a Home Run  
Bet now: Dodgers v Yankees

Daily MLB Tips – World Series Game 3

Ryan Cook
Los Angeles Dodgers @ New York Yankees, 11:08am
Tip: Back the Dodgers to Win @ $2.20  

Game 3 – LAD Leads 2-0  

History is firmly against the Yankees as they return home to the Bronx knowing close to 80 per cent of teams holding a 2-0 advantage in the World Series go on to win it all.  

That said, this series has lived up to the hype so far with big boppers like Teoscar Hernandez and Giancarlo Stanton going yard, as well as late drama in the extra innings of Game 1, and the top of the ninth in Game 2.  

The spotlight is firmly on Shohei Ohtani heading into Game 3 after suffering a minor shoulder injury on Sunday, but it sounds like baseball’s most famous face is set to take to the batter’s box on Tuesday.  

Elsewhere, the pressure is on the Yankees’ Aaron Judge to find some much-needed magic at the plate, as well as Game 3 starter Clarke Schmidt, who has given up a pair of earned runs in limited innings during both of his Postseason starts so far.  

On the other side of the rubber is Walker Buehler, potentially the story of the Dodgers’ trophy run if he can reproduce his sparkling four-inning shutout in Game 3 against the Mets last week.  

In terms of betting, the Yankees can easily claw their way back into this series if they avoid the same mistakes that have cost them so far.  

Judge struggling at the plate is one thing, but Nestor Cortes hanging a fastball over the plate against Freddie Freeman, or Aaron Boone allowing Carlos Rodon, who clearly looked rattled, to stay in the game on Sunday are entirely different.  

You’d think returning home to the Yankee faithful would help, but keep in mind, Boone’s side fared slightly better on the road in terms of AVG and OBP, while the Yankees also won more games on the road than they did in their home park.  

Anthony Volpe getting back on base and Jazz Chisholm providing a spark could change things, but with some of Boone’s decisions proving costly, we could be looking at the Dodgers moving one step closer to bringing the brooms out. 

Bet now: Yankees v Dodgers
Home Run Bets
Tip: Shohei Ohtani to Hit a Home Run @ $3.10 

The building blocks are in place for Shohei Ohtani to leave his mark in Game 3.  

He’s recorded only one hit in eight World Series plate appearances so far, but does own a home run off Clarke Schmidt – a towering shot that registered a whopping 116 MPH off the end of the bat.   

Bet now: Home Run Bets

Daily MLB Tips – World Series Game 1

Ryan Cook
New York Yankees @ Los Angeles Dodgers, 11:10am  

Say what you will about this matchup, it promises to be an absolute barnburner between two big market teams that most fans love to hate.

Regardless of whether they bought their way one step closer to a ring, the Dodgers go into Game 1 as warm favourites with the top of the order, that is Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, and Teoscar Hernandez, all swinging red-hot bats. 

The Yankees’ biggest names have also come out to play at the plate, namely lucrative offseason signing Juan Soto, who owns 11 hits through the Postseason, and Giancarlo Stanton, who leads the way with five home runs. 

Aaron Judge is yet to heat up for New York and will no doubt come under heavy scrutiny if the Yankees fail to get the job done, but overall, this matchup will boil down to pitching – as has been the case for most teams since the Postseason began. 

The Game 1 matchup sees last year’s AL Cy Young winner Gerrit Cole face off against Dodgers midseason trade piece Jack Flaherty, a head-to-head battle that slightly favours the former.

Cole has posted his share of shaky starts in the Postseason, but his 7.0 inning, one-run outing against the Royals was a true masterpiece highlighting how good he can be when his fastball is on. 

Flaherty, meanwhile, is the only Dodger starter to last at least 7.0 innings since the playoffs began, and while that’s a positive by itself, it’s worth noting he’s allowed 12 runs over a combined 8 1/3 innings otherwise. 

Further along, I think the bullpen matchup also favours New York. 

Clay Holmes, Mark Leiter Jr, and Tommy Kahnle can all give up a run or two in their reflective relief spots, but I think the Yankees have much more depth to fall back on compared to the Dodgers’ pen. 

With that in mind, I’m backing the Yankees to win Game 1 with an extra day of rest to their advantage, but the Over is also a great play right through this series.  

Both teams have slugged their way to respective pennants, the Yankees scoring five runs or more in every game of the ALCS, and the Dodgers’ 46 runs being the second-most in CS history. 

Recommended Bets

  • Yankees to Win @ $2.05
  • Over 8.5 Runs
Bet now: Yankees v Dodgers
Home Run Bets
Teoscar Hernandez to Hit A Home Run @ $4.60 

You could easily build a case for Teoscar Hernandez as the most-improved player this season. 

He’s coming off a career year that saw him 33 HR, while he’s also proven a pivotal part to the Dodgers’ lineup in the place of Freddie Freeman in the three-hole.  

Better yet, Hernandez owns a homer off Gerrit Cole and a double, his hardest hit registering 91.7 MPH off the bat. 

Bet now: Home Run Bets

Daily MLB Tips – Friday, October 18

Ryan Cook
New York Yankees @ Cleveland Guardians, 7:10am  

Game 3 – NYY Leads 2-0  

Progressive Field should be rocking on Friday with the series virtually on the line for the home side.  

The Guardians bats have accounted for only two home runs through as many games to start. While the Yankees have sent only one more over the fence themselves, they’ve easily been the more efficient team when it comes to driving in runners in scoring position. 

Game 3 sees Clarke Schmidt face lefty Matthew Boyd on the mound, a matchup that might only slightly favour Boyd given Schmidt pitched only limited innings (4.2) against the Royals in the Divisional Series.  

That said, Boyd has lasted minimal innings himself this Postseason, pitching the same number in Game 2 against the Tigers, before opening Game 5 last week.  

Looking back, the Yankees have been a great team against southpaws all year, ranking Top 5 in runs scored and 22nd in strikeout percentage.  

Juan Soto and Aaron Judge have both taken him deep in the past, and I do fear for Cleveland with the Yankees bullpen shining bright in Game 2 on Wednesday.  

Neither team has been great at the plate, but with the Guards squandering a less-than-impressive Gerrit Cole start and loading the bases on multiple occasions, only to come up empty-handed, this feels like the kind of series where they might look back and wonder, what could have been? 

  • Tip: Back the Yankees to Win @ $1.87 

Player Pick 

As already mentioned, Judge and Soto own homers against Boyd, so you can do a lot worse than backing either to go deep.  

On the opposite side, Brayan Rocchio has gone 0-for-2 in as many career plate appearances against Schmidt, but he did register a 91MPH flyout against him, so make of that what you will.  

  • Tip: Aaron Judge to Hit a Home Run, Brayan Rocchio to Hit a Home Run  
Bet now: Yankees v Guardians
Los Angeles Dodgers @ New York Mets, 10:10am  

Game 4 – LAD Leads 2-1 

It was de ja vu last night at Citi Field with the Dodgers romping the Mets 8-0 thanks to homers from Kike Hernandez, Shohei Ohtani, and Max Muncy.  

The Mets had their share of opportunities with the likes of Mark Vientos and Pete Alonso caught on the warning track, while they also stranded eight men on base in what was a frustrating night for home fans.  

We now turn our attention to Game 4 with Yoshinobu Yamamoto facing off against Jose Quintana.  

After missing most of the season through injury, the Dodgers’ expensive Japanese signing bounced back from a rough Game 1 against the Padres to throw five scoreless innings last week, momentum he’ll be hoping to carry over in his first start in Queens.  

On the flip side, Quintana has arguably been the best arm through the Postseason, holding both the Brewers and Phillies scoreless and issuing only three walks total.  

As the market suggests, this is a genuine coin-flip game, and after all the blowouts, I think we could be in for a close one with several hitters starting to settle in and find their groove.  

The wind cost the Mets a couple of homers last night, but after smacking Yamamoto for three earned runs when they faced off back in late April, I think we could see their luck change. 

Like the Dodgers 24 hours ago, it’s worth noting the Mets posted a 44-32 record after a loss during the regular season, so if they get the best out of Quintana and turn it over to the well-rested Edwin Diaz, I like their chances at evening this series up. 

  • Tip: Back the Mets to Win @ $2.15 

Player Pick  

Harrison Bader registered a double when he went 3-from-3 against Yamomoto in that April game, a hit that registered a tick under 97MPH off the bat.  

He pinch-hit last night for the Mets but is worth considering if he gets another chance.  

Elsewhere, I think Alonso’s time to shine is now. 

He went 0-for-4 last night but easily could have had a home run on his long 351-foot fly ball.  

We’ve seen the Polar Bear put the Mets on his back repeatedly this Postseason, so his going yard wouldn’t be a surprise.  

  • Tip: Harrison Bader to Hit a Home Run, Pete Alonso to Hit a Home Run  
Bet now: Dodgers v Mets

Daily MLB Tips – Thursday, October 17

Ryan Cook
Los Angeles Dodgers @ New York Mets, 10:10am

Game 3 – Series Tied 1-1 

The NLCS shifts back to Queens for the first time since 2015 with the Mets and Dodgers all tied up at one win apiece.  

Mark Vientos and Francisco Lindor, two of the Mets’ top Postseason contributors, helped lead New York to a 7-3 romping in Game 2, while Sean Manaea and the rest of the Mets bullpen managed to keep Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman hitless. 

The pitching matchup for Thursday’s game is slightly in favour of the home side with Luis Severino taking the mound.  

The veteran right-hander threw five scoreless innings against the Phillies last week before Bryce Harper and Nick Castellanos made him pay for three runs, a mistake that was as much on Severino as it was Mets management. 

Walker Buehler, on the otehr hand, is arguably the biggest liability in the Dodgers’ rotation as he continues to try and rediscover his best stuff post-injury.  

The 30-year-old was tagged for six runs against the Padres last week, but on the plus side, he does boast a 2.25 career ERA at Citi Field across 12 combined innings.  

While we’re looking back, it’s worth noting Severino gave up seven earned runs against the Dodgers last year in just four innings of work in his final season with the Yankees. 

With all that in mind, I think the Over is probably the best play here with a handful of players (Ohtani, Freeman, Pete Alonso) yet to make an impact, but given the Dodgers are also 41-25 after a loss (the second-best record in the league this year) there’s also a case to be made for the visitors.  

  • Tip: Dodgers to Win & Over 5.5 Runs @ $2.30 

Player Pick 

Mookie Betts, Tesocar Hernandez, Ohtani, and Max Muncy have all taken Severino deep, so it’s basically a pick’em in terms of Dodger hitters if you’re keen on a home run bet.  

Those last two, Ohtani and Muncy, are the ones I want to focus on, though, as both have recorded an average exit velocity of 101 MPH off the end of the bat against the right-hander. 

  • Tip: Shoehi Ohtani to Hit a Home Run, Max Muncy to Hit a Home Run  
Bet now: Dodgers v Mets

Daily MLB Tips – Wednesday, October 16

Ryan Cook
Cleveland Guardians @ New York Yankees, 9:40am 

Game 2 – NYY Leads 1-0  

The Yankees opened the series with a convincing win in the Bronx last night, outscoring the Guardians 5-2 thanks to homers from Juan Soto and Giancarlo Stanton.  

As I wrote yesterday, scoring runs has come at a premium for the Guardians since the start of the Division Series, and it was hardly encouraging to watch them leave five runners on base whilst finishing 1-for-4 with men in scoring position.  

Cleveland will turn to ace Tanner Bibee for Game 2, a reliable right-hander who mixes a 94MPH fastball with a slider that he uses close to 26% of the time.  

Guards fans know what they are getting from Bibee (he allowed only two earned runs across 8.2 combined innings against Detroit), but it feels as though Jose Ramirez will need to carry the team offensively with the Yankees holding a serious edge in terms of power.  

Trends-wise, Cleveland posted a winning record off the back of a previous loss during the regular season, but with Gerrit Cole locking down the Royals for just one earned run last week, this is a tough ask for the Guards on both sides of the rubber.  

  • Tip: Back the Yankees to Win & Over 5.5 Runs @ $2.20 

Player Pick  

Ramirez 0-4 last night, but it’s worth noting he bounced back to hit a home run on more than four occasions when posting the same line during the regular season.  

Better yet, Ramirez has somewhat owned Gerrit Cole, taking him deep twice and recording a triple and three doubles in 42 plate appearances.  

Anthony Rizzo is the other name I’d be keen to back here. 

He was lucky to make the Yankees’ ALCS roster after sitting on the sideline through injury, be he made an immediate impact last night, driving in a run and nearly hitting one over the center field fence on what turned out to be a long fly ball.  

  • Tip: Jose Ramirez to Hit a Home Run @ $4.10, Anthony Rizzo to Hit a Home Run @ $6.25 
Bet now: Guardians v Yankees

Daily MLB Tips – Tuesday, October 15

Ryan Cook
Cleveland Guardians @ New York Yankees, 9:40am  

Game 1 

There are storylines aplenty heading into what shapes as a fascinating ALCS between two polar opposites. 

The Yankees are sending Carlos Rodon to the mound for the opener, the 31-year-old facing all the pressure after allowing four earned runs in just 3.2 innings of work against the Royals during the Divisional Series.  

Side by side, the Bronx Bombers hold an edge in terms of offence, but it’s worth noting the Yanks only outscored Kansas City by three runs.  

Elsewhere, all eyes will be on Aaron Judge as his postseason struggles continue, but New York fans can rest easy knowing Giancarlo Stanton continues to swing a hot bat with Anthony Volpe also getting on base. 

Not to be outdone, the Guardians boast their share of talented hitters, particularly atop the lineup in the form of Steven Kwan (.524 Postseason AVG) and the always-dangerous, Jose Ramirez.  

The Guards have a big advantage when it comes to the bullpen, locked down by the league’s top closer Emmanuel Clase and strong middle relief arms like Tim Herin and Hunter Gaddis.  

I’m leaning the way of the Yankees in Game 1, but I think Cleveland can put some runs on the board against Rodon. They ranked Top 5 in runs scored against left-handed pitching, and bottom five in strikeout percentage against southpaws during the regular season.  

Keep in mind, the Guards had a stretch of 20 innings without scoring a run against the Tigers, so if those struggles continue, this series be over within five games against a loaded Yankees lineup that averaged over 50 home runs more during the regular season.  

  • Tip: Back the Yankees to Win @ $1.62 
  • Next Best: Guardians Over 3.5 Runs @ $2.02 
  • Player Pick: Lane Thomas to Hit a Home Run  
Bet now: Guardians v Yankees

Daily MLB Tips – Saturday, October 12

Ryan Cook
San Diego Padres @ Los Angeles Dodgers, 10:10am 

Game 5 – Series Tied 2-2

A fitting end to what has been a memorable series between two fierce division rivals.  

Managerial decisions loom large as we look back to Game 4. Mike Shildt chose to send Dylan Cease to the mound in what turned out to be a blowout, while the Dodgers took a bullpen approach knowing full well Yoshinobu Yamomoto or Jack Flaherty would be ready to roll for a potential decider.  

Los Angeles manager Dave Roberts is yet to make a decision on who will take the mound as I write, but we do know Yu Darvish is the man on the rubber for the Friars on the road.  

A potential Hall of Famer, Darvish was rock solid in Game 2 at Dodger Stadium, tossing seven innings and allowing just one earned run on three hits. 

On paper, the Dodgers have a serious advantage – as they do over every team in the league – when it comes to depth and bullpen arms. But with that said, the Padres may have done themselves a subtle favour on Thursday by losing 8-0. 

With the game out of reach, Shildt chose to stay away from his relief arms down the stretch, which not only affords them extra rest, but also means the Dodgers haven’t seen them quite as much as the Padres have seen the Los Angeles bullpen.  

Shohei Ohtani aside, the offensive star power is fairly even across the board in my opinion, so if the Padres can get five solid innings out of Darvish and turn things over to Robert Suarez, they’ll be on track to cause one of the biggest upsets of the last decade. 

  • Tip: Back the Padres to Win @ $2.15 
  • Player Pick: Yu Darvish Over 4.5 Strikeouts
Bet now: Padres v Dodgers

Daily MLB Tips – Friday, October 11

Ryan Cook
Cleveland Guardians @ Detroit Tigers, 8:10am 

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  
Bet now: Guardians v Tigers
New York Yankees @ Kansas City Royals, 10:10am  

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 
Bet now: Yankees v Royals