New York Yankees vs. Cleveland Indians Pick & Prediction OCTOBER 17th 2024

Preview and Prediction

CLEVELAND As the American League Championship Series arrives in Ohio for Game 3 on Thursday, the New York Yankees have all the momentum.

The Yankees currently hold a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series, with the Cleveland Guardians struggling due to their own errors and missed opportunities.

Despite this, the Guardians remain hopeful as they return to their home field.

"We are always confident going into every game," said Cleveland manager Stephen Vogt. "We thrive on playing at home and in front of our fans. With three games here, we feel very optimistic about our chances.

"Of course, we would have liked to have won at least one game in New York, but we are still confident in our abilities."

In the first two games of the series in New York, the Guardians struggled both at the plate and in the field. Defensive mistakes and difficulties with runners in scoring position (Cleveland is 1-for-11 in these situations) contributed to their 5-2 loss in the first game and 6-3 defeat in the second.

Credit must also be given to the Yankees' pitching staff, who have remained resilient despite the pressure. In Game 2, the Guardians managed eight hits and six walks, but only scored one run in the ninth inning when the outcome was already decided.

The Guardians will look to turn things around in Game 3 with left-hander Matthew Boyd (0-0, 0.00 ERA in the postseason) on the mound. The Yankees will counter with right-hander Clarke Schmidt (0-0, 3.86 ERA).

Boyd had two strong starts against the Detroit Tigers in the AL Division Series, pitching a total of 6 2/3 innings and allowing only one hit and no runs. He struck out 10 and walked three.

This is Boyd's second postseason appearance, with his first being in 2022 when he recorded one out for the Seattle Mariners in the ALDS against the Houston Astros.

"I have spent most of my nine seasons watching the playoffs from home," Boyd said. "I also had one year in Seattle. It's one of those things where you think, 'My time will come to experience that.'

"But you never know what it feels like until you're out there. It's invigorating and feels like Opening Day all over again, but even that doesn't do it justice."

Boyd also spoke about facing the powerful Yankees lineup, saying, "They have a very talented lineup and it's a challenge that I welcome. I have a lot of respect for these guys and it will be a fun task."

Schmidt appeared in one game during the ALDS, allowing two runs on four hits in 4 2/3 innings against the Kansas City Royals in Game 3.

When asked about the Guardians, Schmidt said, "They do all the little things right. ... When you face a lineup like this, they have players who can hit home runs like (Josh) Naylor, but they also find ways to score runs.

"Teams like this pose a challenge because you can't let your guard down. Anyone in their lineup can get a hit, from top to bottom. They are a scrappy team with the ability to hit and score runs in any way they can."

PREDICTION

New York Yankees

3

4

Cleveland Indians

New York Yankees vs. Cleveland Indians Recap JUL 3TH 2022