MLB Playoff Odds: New York Yankees Vs. Cleveland Guardians Game 5
We’ve seen several epic games in these MLB playoffs, but Monday’s Game 5 matchup between the New York Yankees and Cleveland Guardians will be just the second winner-take-all game of this postseason.
The Yankees’ season, which included 99 wins, a division title and a home run record, comes down to a single game at home against the AL Central champion Guardians, the youngest team in baseball. Cleveland has won two games in this series by the skin of its teeth, but a win is a win. The winner of this game will move on to face the Houston Astros in the ALCS.
Naturally, oddsmakers have New York favored at home in this matchup. The Yankees have the better team on paper and should benefit from home-field advantage, but the Guardians are resilient and won’t go down without a fight.
Use our betting guide to make your decisions on your MLB bets for Game 5 and Yankees wagering.
Guardians vs. Yankees: Betting Preview
Game Details
- Who: Cleveland Guardians at New York Yankees
- When: Monday, Oct. 17
- Time: 7:07 p.m. EDT
- Where: Yankee Stadium—New York, NY
Betting Odds Summary
- Moneyline: Guardians +130, Yankees -154
- Runline: Guardians +1.5 (-170), Yankees -1.5 (+140)
- Total: Over/Under 7.0 Runs (-120/-102)
Starting Pitchers
- Aaron Civale (5-6, 4.92 ERA, 98 Ks) vs. Jameson Taillon (14-5, 3.91 ERA, 151 Ks)
Neither of these pitchers has much of a postseason pedigree, so managers Tito Francona and Aaron Boone will be quick to wave in a relief pitcher from the bullpen in a game that could see a dozen or more pitchers. It’s all hands on deck for a winner-take-all-game.
Jameson Taillon will look to bounce back after failing to record a single out during Game 2, giving up two runs on three hits in the top of the 10th inning to take the loss in his postseason debut. Aaron Civale has never pitched in the playoffs before and will half to deal with an amped-up Yankee Stadium.
We don’t expect the starting pitchers to have a significant impact either way, as the bullpens will likely decide it. Accordingly, stay away from any pitcher prop bets.
Hot Hitters
While we shouldn’t focus too much on the starting pitchers for Game 5, Cleveland’s top two hitters in this series can’t be ignored. Jose Ramirez and Steve Kwan lead this ALDS with seven hits apiece and are both batting .412 with a .444 OBP. Ramirez has yet to go yard, but what better time than tonight?
New York’s offense has been surprisingly led by Bronx native Harrison Bader, who has as many home runs by himself (three) as the entire Guardians team in this series. Anthony Rizzo is also having a solid ALDS with .983 OPS and has terrific career numbers against Civale, going 5-for-10 with two homers and a double.
That’s a small sample size, but it’s still significant, given the one-sided nature of the numbers. We like Rizzo to provide a punch against Civale if he gets something to hit.
Whether you think his “rocking the baby” gesture after his Game 4 home run was thrilling or bush league, Cleveland’s Josh Naylor went deep on Sunday. He has an all-or-nothing approach, which must be infuriating for Guardians fans, but his uppercut swing could do some damage in Yankee Stadium with its short right field.
Our Best Bet Today
- Anthony Rizzo to Record 2+ Hits (+340 via FanDuel Sportsbook)
Call it Cubs magic, experience or owning the opposing starting pitcher. Whatever you want to say, Rizzo has a lot going for him in this Game 5 matchup. We love the chance to win $340 on Rizzo getting two hits, given the quality of his at-bats in this series.
Our only concern is if the Guardians pitch him too carefully and walk him a few times, but that’s unlikely with Giancarlo Stanton batting behind him.
Our Same-Game Parlay
When you use the same-game parlay you can put together a bet of your choice for any MLB playoff game. Here’s our parlay pick for the Yankees vs. Guardians Game 5 of the AL Division Series:
- Jose Ramirez To Record A Hit (-180)
- Harrison Bader To Record A Hit (-150)
- Steven Kwan To Record A Hit (-195)
- Oswaldo Cabrera To Record A Hit (-175)
Odds on this same-game parlay are +464, which means a winning $100 bet will get you $464 in profits plus your original stake back.
We’ve already discussed how hot Ramirez, Bader and Kwan are. Don’t sleep on Yankees rookie Oswaldo Cabrera, who’s already doubled and homered during this series.
