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Starting pitching has been the Achilles heel for the Yankees during this series.
Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodon did not showcase their best pitching performance, while their bullpen did well for much of Game 2. The Yankees could not score enough runs to help win in game two.
Kansas City won Lugo’s start against the Baltimore Orioles, and he now owns a record of 18-16 wins from his starts this season. After starting strongly for two months before faltering somewhat later on, Lugo shut out the New York Yankees over seven innings while striking out ten batters during September – his best performance of 2017.
Schmidt would likely do just fine on the Yankees side, but their bullpen may need to pitch four or more innings – an immense strain after Games 1 and 2.
Game 3 should go the Royals’ way, as their home record stands at 45-36 straight up.
From August 1 until the end of regular season play, the Tigers had one of the best bullpen ERA in the American League with 2.71, which they maintained into postseason action with a 2.57 bullpen ERA across four postseason games.
Hurter posted an impressive 2.49 ERA during the regular season and playoffs combined, though his regular-season opponents batting average of only. Two hundred thirty-eight proved fortunate. Between both periods, Hurter averaged less than 7.3 strikeouts per nine innings.
On Wednesday, the Cleveland Guardians plan to heavily use their bullpen, with Alex Cobb set to start. His 2.76 ERA may seem low; however, this comes from just three starts and a 16 1/3-inning sample size.
Cobb makes his return since September 1 and will be supported by an impressive Guardians bullpen that leads the league with an ERA of 2.58 (more than one half point better than any other team in the league).
This looks like a game that the better bullpen wins and that makes this game a toss-up.
Ranger Suarez has struggled over the last month. In September, he made five starts for Philadelphia and gave up 15 runs over 22.1 innings pitched, yielding a 6.04 ERA, with his performances leading them to just three victories out of those five starts. Meanwhile, Jose Quintana has been incredible; over his last five starts, including playoff starts, he has allowed just two runs over 31 innings pitched (2.58 ERA). That led the Mets to four victories out of those five games. Though the Phillies were expected to advance from their NLDS matchup against the Mets, Quintana has consistently held their advantage; take them over the Phillies this time and close out their series!
Prediction: Mets 5 Phillies 3
Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Teoscar Hernandez, and Will Smith will likely have to be on top if their games lead Los Angeles to victory in the National League Division Series; unfortunately, injuries might be the downfall for Los Angeles.
Freddie Freeman should appear for Los Angeles tonight, though his ankle will likely limit him. Los Angeles may start Buehler instead of Glasnow due to Glasnow’s elbow injury – another unfortunate trend for their club and one which seems impossible to overcome given how well San Diego is playing right now.
The Padres end this series tonight and advance.
Prediction: Padres 6 Dodgers 4
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