Guardians vs Yankees predictions
Cleveland Guardians fans, you’ve got a few guys to keep your eyes on in this series rubber match against the Yankees. Jose Ramirez is on fire this season, boasting a .327 average and leading the team in both home runs and RBIs. I’d expect him to deliver at least a hit or two, and he’s always a threat to drive in runs—probably picking up an RBI again tonight. Carlos Santana usually finds a way to get on base and can work a walk almost as often as he smacks a single. Then there’s Steven Kwan, who has the kind of patience at the plate that could really put pressure on Max Fried early in the game; figure on him notching at least a hit and maybe swiping a base if he gets the chance. On the mound, Slade Cecconi will need to stay sharp against the Yankees’ lineup—if he can keep his walks down and avoid the long ball, he could give Cleveland a fighting chance.
Switching to the Yankees, you can’t talk about this squad without mentioning Aaron Judge. The guy has been an absolute force—he’s flirting with a .400 average lately and putting up video-game numbers in homers and RBIs. I’m expecting another big game from him, possibly launching one into the bleachers and driving in a couple runs. Cody Bellinger seems to thrive off the energy at Yankee Stadium and could easily notch multiple hits in this matchup, while Jasson Dominguez might surprise with some speed and timely hitting at the bottom of the order. On the bump, Max Fried has just been lights out and should be able to stifle the Guardians’ bats for most of his outing—think fewer than two runs allowed and plenty of strikeouts to keep Cleveland hitters guessing.
When it comes down to picking a winner, it’s tough to bet against the Yankees at home, especially with their offense firing on all cylinders and Max Fried dealing. The Guardians have the ability to make it close, particularly if Ramirez and Kwan step up big, but the Yankees’ bats have a way of taking over these high-stakes games. With the crowd behind them and the offense clicking, I’d give the edge to New York in this one—expect them to come out on top and take the series. But hey, that’s baseball—anything can happen, right?
