Dodgers vs. Yankees, 8:08 ET

PublishedOctober 29, 2024 10:39 AM EDT|UpdatedOctober 29, 2024 10:39 AM EDT

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Dodgers vs. Yankees, 8:08 ET

I should probably just stop, right? I mean three straight, now that I’ve picked the Yankees to win a game this series and lose three straight. Losing three games isn’t the end of the world, but as I said about the early starts to the season, where teams (like the Astros this year) get off to a bad start, this is magnified due to the small sample size. Well, it’s certainly being magnified here that I can’t predict a World Series game will save my bankroll. I’m not chasing because other sports are making up for the losses, but man, I gotta get at least one win before the series is over. Let’s go back to the drawing board with this matchup between the Dodgers and Yankees.

You might as well engrave his name on the World Series MVP trophy now. Freddie Freeman has this on lock as long as the Dodgers close out the series, which is also almost certain. Los Angeles now has four games to win one more. They looked like the better team almost every inning of the series. Sure, they fell behind at times, but they never seemed to lose focus and were able to pull off wins even in the face of defeat. They have defeated the Yankees 4-2 in consecutive games and haven’t trailed in the last 18 innings. They’ve also scored first in all three games, which gives you momentum but also loosens up your pitching and tightens up the opposition. The fact that the Dodgers can do this in a series while not even having all their best pitchers is scary for the rest of the league. They’re looking at some sort of bullpen game tonight, and their bullpen has been fantastic this postseason. There are a few matchups that I’m sure they will try to avoid, but the Dodgers have to feel confident that they can win tonight and still have multiple options for starters in the next three games should they be needed.

CLEVELAND, OH – OCTOBER 17: Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees looks on prior to Game 3 of the ALCS presented by loanDepot between the New York Yankees and the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field on Thursday, October 17, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Mary DeCicco/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

The Yankees have to win at least one game here, right? Is there some pride in winning one game instead of getting swept? Probably. Keep in mind, if any franchise should believe it’s possible to come back from a three-game deficit when no one else has, it’s the Yankees. They definitely need a better start to tonight’s game than they did yesterday. Their starter, Clark Schmidt, threw 2.2 innings and opened the game with a walk. Not only was it a walk, but he walked Ohtani on four pitches. Schmidt may not have been well enough prepared or mentally ready at this point. He settled down to get Betts out in the next at-bat, but Freeman then took him over the fence for the third straight game. Any energy or momentum was immediately taken away from the Yankees. Luis Gil wants to give them a better start. Their right-hander put together a very nice season with a 15-7 record, 3.50 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP. He pitched just once in the playoffs, allowing two earned runs in four innings. He hasn’t pitched in 11 days, so expectations might have to be a little low here. He faced the Dodgers once this season, going 5.2 innings and allowing three earned runs in a 6-4 Yankees victory.

Believe it or not, I’m not even a Yankees fan – and after picking them in three straight games, I’m losing more respect for them by the day. The Dodgers have been the best team in baseball this season and here’s why. I think it’s probably in your best interest to fade me out, but the Yankees have nothing going for them other than needing to win a game. I’m supporting the Dodgers for plus money to hoist the trophy tonight.

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