ALCS Game 3 Preview: Yankees Look to Sweep Guardians in Cleveland

The New York Yankees head into Game 3 of the ALCS against the Cleveland Guardians with a commanding 2-0 series lead after a 6-3 win on Tuesday. Aaron Judge, after struggling early in the postseason, broke out of his slump with a key sacrifice fly in the second inning and a two-run homer in the seventh, putting the Yankees in control of the series. As the series shifts to Progressive Field in Cleveland, the Yankees will aim to capitalize on their momentum and push the Guardians to the brink of elimination.

Judge, the likely American League MVP, had just one RBI in the postseason before Tuesday but showed his power with the decisive two-run blast. Meanwhile, the Guardians find themselves facing tough odds. Historically, teams that lead 2-0 in a best-of-seven series win 83.5% of the time. Cleveland will need a strong performance to keep their World Series hopes alive.

Clay Holmes earned the win in relief of Yankees ace Gerrit Cole, while Cleveland’s Tanner Bibee struggled, allowing three runs and taking the loss. Clarke Schmidt is set to start for the Yankees in Game 3, while the Guardians have yet to announce their starting pitcher. It could either be Matthew Boyd, who has impressed in limited postseason action, or a bullpen-heavy approach.

Schmidt had a solid outing in the Division Series against the Kansas City Royals, allowing four hits and two earned runs over 4.2 innings. On the Guardians’ side, Boyd has been lights out in his two starts, pitching 6.2 innings of shutout baseball with 10 strikeouts.

With the Yankees holding the upper hand, experts at NBC Sports favor them on both the moneyline and run line for Game 3. The over/under for the game is set at 7 runs, and analysts are leaning toward the over, given the recent uptick in scoring.

As the Yankees aim to take full control of the series, Cleveland will rely on its home-field advantage to try and turn the tide. However, with their backs against the wall, the Guardians face a daunting task to keep their championship aspirations alive.

Game Details & How to Watch Yankees @ Guardians – ALCS Game 3

  • Date: Thursday, October 17, 2024
  • Time: 5:08 PM ET
  • Location: Progressive Field, Cleveland, OH
  • TV/Streaming: TBS, TruTV, MAX

Latest Odds (As of Wednesday)

  • Moneyline: Yankees (-115), Guardians (-105)
  • Spread: Yankees -1.5 (+150), Guardians +1.5 (-185)
  • Total Runs: 7

Expert Predictions for Game 3

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports suggests betting on the Yankees.
  • Run Line: Analysts favor the Yankees to cover the -1.5 spread.
  • Total Runs: Experts recommend betting on the over, expecting more than 7 total runs in the game.

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