MLB
1 Pick.
8:08PM EST: Yankees ML +110 (4 Units). Like the Yanks odds of stealing Game 1 with this starting pitching matchup. Gerrit Cole had a 2.49 ERA on the road this season and a 2.35 ERA on the road last season. His last 2 road playoff starts; 1 ER on 7IP @ KC this year and 2ER on 7 IP @ CLE in 2022. He went into LA last season and allowed 1 ER on 6 IP and hasn't seen them since. The current Dodgers roster has a .228 BA and .289 wOBA in 178 career plate appearances against Cole.
LAD SP Jack Flaherty gave up 4 ER on 5.1 IP in his first playoff start, fired back with 7 scoreless, then gave up 8 runs in his 3rd and final. This is a tough matchup for him specifically too. Throughout his career he's had issues with walks. His command was strong early but since being traded to LA he posted a 3.09 BB/9 in the regular season. He really struggled down the stretch, walking 12 batters on 27 IP in 5 September starts. Through 3 post-season starts he has a 4.11 BB/9. The Yankees led the league in Walk-Rate, finishing the season with 70 more walks than the 2nd ranked Dodgers. With Giancarlo Stanton returning to MVP form whenever the playoffs roll around this is an incredibly dangerous lineup to be issuing free passes too. The 2 guys batting in front of him also happen to be 1st and 2nd in walks this year. The current Yankees roster also has a .304 BA and .403 BA in 70 career plate appearances against Flaherty.
