Game 5 Los Angeles Dodgers vs. New York Yankees Prediction:
For the second straight night, it is do or die for the New York Yankees at home as they turn to ace Gerrit Cole to keep their season alive at home against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday.
This is Cole’s fifth start this postseason and he’s been showing why the Yankees inked him to such a lucrative deal, posting a 2.82 ERA with just one home run allowed in 22 ⅓ postseason innings, including just one run in six innings in Game 1 against the Dodgers.
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The Yankees offense will look to lend better run support for Cole than when they lost in Game 1 6-3 in 10 innings and, though they overall this season have averaged nearly five runs per game, which is the best mark in the American League, the team scored three runs or fewer in each of their first three games.
Cole’s task is to shut down a Dodgers lineup that leads the league in runs per game on the road, between the regular season and postseason averaging nearly 5.6 runs per game and enters Game 5 having belted 27 home runs in their first 15 postseason games.
On the mound to start for the Dodgers is Jack Flaherty, who allowed two runs in 5 1/3 innings in Game 1 against the Yankees, but has had struggles as a member of the Dodgers with a 4.26 ERA between the regular season and playoffs in 14 starts since being traded from the Detroit Tigers at the trade deadline, allowing nearly 1.6 home runs per nine innings.
The Dodgers will rely upon Flaherty to lend length after they had a bullpen game in Game 4, entering Tuesday’s game with a 3.16 ERA in their bullpen this postseason after having a 3.53 regular season bullpen ERA, while the Yankees bullpen have been at their best with a 2.70 ERA this postseason after registering a 3.62 ERA in the regular season.
With the Dodgers throwing a lot of their lower end bullpen arms in Game 4 and the Yankees having the 2024 postseason leader in innings pitched on the bump, Game 5 will be a classic pitchers duel with both high powered offenses being slowed down for their standards.
The Play: Dodgers vs. Yankees Total Under
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