After a horrific attempt at predicting the future for Game 1 of the 2018 ALDS, I figured it would be best to keep my psychic hat on for Game Two and just let the game play itself.
However, as the team comes back home, I have a good feeling about how the teams have been used, and about how the teams are going to play.
So, without further ado, let’s get to predicting:
Game Three: New York, New York; 7:40 PM, TBS
Probable Pitchers: Nathan Eovaldi vs. Luis Severino
Before we predict anything, the facts are a necesity to help understand my logic and thinking, so please bear with me.
Going into the Wild Card game against the Oakland Athletics with Luis Severino at the helm was a move questioned by many Yankee fans, especially as pitchers like J.A. Happ and Masahiro Tanaka had been much better in the 2nd half of the season. Luckily, Boone stuck with the teams ace and was rewarded greatly.
Tonight, Luis Severino comes back to the mound in the Bronx after a great 4 IP, 2H, 7K, (and an unfortunate 4 BB) night. The Yankees only used him for 87 pitches, as in the winner-take-all game they wanted to keep the Athletics on their toes. And this works in the favor for the Yankees as Severino should be well rested for tonight’s matchup.
On the Boston side of the pitching match-ups, the Red Sox are going with former-Yankee Nathan Eovaldi, who has been seeing success after recovering from Tommy John Surgery over the 2017 season. And, he has been very good against the Yankees this season as well. However, the Red Sox have forced themselves into a hard position with their bullpen usage over Games 1 & 2.
The Red Sox came into the Bronx with seemingly 5 starting pitchers on the roster, but only one who is rested. Chris Sale (Game 1 Starter), David Price (Game 2), and Nathan Eovaldi (Game 3) are the officially listed starters, but the Red Sox have needed to use Rick Porcello (Used in Game 1) and Eduardo Rodriguez (Used in Game 2) as temporary relief pitchers. David Price was also just told about how he’ll only pitch in relief for the rest of this series. Unless I am missing something major, the Red Sox pitchers are going to be quickly running on fumes.
The other nice thing is that the Yankees have been able to keep the Red Sox hitters in check for the most part. AL-MVP Candidate Mookie Betts is just 1-7 (.143) and Catcher Sandy Leon and Infielder Eduardo Nunez have both yet to get a hit (0-5 and 0-7 respectively). J.D. Martinez is still a powerhouse (3-8 with a HR), and Steve Pearce has been hard to get out (.600 OBP), but by keeping Betts in check the Yankees have been able to limit a lot of potential damage from the Red Sox offense.
Meanwhile, it seems the Yankees bats who may have been kept cold recently (Aaron Judge) or most of the season (Gary Sanchez) might be coming around at a very opportune time for this team.
So now that we have some facts, lets try and see the future:
Aaron Judge has hit a home run in all three postseason games so far, so it is unreasonable to think he’ll do it again. However, for that reason I am 100% expecting it. Bonus Prediction: The Judge HR happens in the 3rd Inning with 2 on, 1 out, on a 1-2 pitch. It’ll go to left-center field into the visitors bullpen.
Mookie Betts is not a player that is held to a 1-7 batting line often. Which is exactly why he’s going to get on the nerves of Yankee fans tonight. He’s going to hit a lead-off double to start the game and follow it up with an RBI single in the 5th.
The Yankees offense as a whole tonight will hit 3 HR (one from Judge, above), one from Luke Voit and the other coming from Gleyber Torres. Bonus: Voit: 5th Inning, 0 on, 1 out, 0-1 count, to Section 135; Torres: 7th Inning, 1 on, 2 outs, 2-0 pitch, to the Yankees bullpen.
Luis Severino is going to go a solid 5 IP, 2 R (2 ER), 3 H, 3 BB, 8K. The bullpen after him will be made up of Chad Green, Dellin Betances, and Aroldis Chapman.
Nathan Eovaldi is going to go 4 IP, 3 R (3 ER), 4 H, 2 BB, 6K. This will once again send the Red Sox into a spiral with trying to figure out their bullpen situation. If Price comes in, up my HR counter by +1.
The Red Sox that will annoy Yankee fans the most tonight will be Steve Pearce. For whatever reason, he’s going to be the hardest Red Sox to get out and will go 2-3 with a walk and an RBI.
The Yankee savior tonight will be Andrew McCutchen. He’ll work another 2 walk night and make a great catch in the outfield to save the Yankees a run in either the 4th/5th inning.
And at this point, my magic dust has worn out.
The Yankees should win tonight. All signs point much in favor of them.
So, let’s go Yankees! I’m looking forward to tonight!
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