MLB Predictions & Odds 4/12/23

New York Yankees (7-4) vs. Cleveland Guardians (7-5)
April 12, 2023 1:10 pm EDT
The Line: Cleveland Guardians +100 / New York Yankees -118 ; Over/Under: 9.5
(Get latest betting odds)

The New York Yankees and the Cleveland Guardians meet Wednesday in MLB action from Progressive Field. This will be the finale in a three-game series. The Guardians eked out a close win on Monday in the opener, then in game two New York evened it up with a blowout victory. Check back all season long for free MLB picks at Sports Chat Place.

New York Yankees 

The Yankees scored twice in the first inning of Monday’s opener but couldn’t get back on the board in a 3-2 loss. In the Tuesday matchup New York scored five runs in the third inning on the way to an 11-2 win. Starting pitcher Gerrit Cole put up 7.0 frames with two earned, five hits and two walks. 

For the starter role in the finale, the Yankees will turn to Clarke Schmidt. In his two starts this year Schmidt has 6.2 innings with a 9.45 ERA and no decisions. He’s got eight strikeouts along the way. Schmidt is 5-6 in his career with a 4.21 ERA. 

Cleveland Guardians 

Over on the Cleveland side, they managed just four hits in their Monday victory. In game two on Tuesday, the Guardians had an early 2-0 lead but couldn’t score after the first. Hunter Gaddis coughed up eight earned in 3.0 innings on eight hits and two walks.

As starter for the finale on Wednesday, the Guardians are sending out Peyton Battenfield. This will be Battenfield’s Major League debut. He was called up briefly last year but didn’t get into a game. Battenfield will be filling out the roster due to the absence of Aaron Civil (oblique). 

The Yankees are 9-3 in their last 12 in game three of a series and 35-16 in their last 51 Wednesday games. New York is 3-7 in their last 10 road games. 

Meanwhile, the Guardians are 35-16 in their last 51 overall and 19-7 in their last 26 Wednesday games. Cleveland is 19-7 in their last 26 in game three of a series. 

ANDREW’S FREE PICK

I’m probably going to try the Guardians. Cleveland should have plenty of scoring opportunities early here if Schmidt continues to struggle. Over his two starts so far this year Schmidt has seven earned on 10 hits and four walks over 6.2 innings. He’s gone just 3.1 frames in each outing so far. Battenfield on the other side will be fun to watch in his debut; he probably won’t be out there for too long, though. On Tuesday Cleveland couldn’t get much going after the first inning so the offense will need to step up in this finale. Should be a fun one to watch.