New York Yankees (83-46) vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (85-44)
It’s a potential preview of an upcoming World Series when the Yankees meet the Dodgers for three games this weekend at Chavez Ravine, starting Friday night. New York lugs a four-game losing skid into LA, while the Blue Crew continues its roll through the National League. How are we playing this game for our free MLB pick?
MLB Betting Odds
Friday’s MLB betting odds opened Los Angeles at around -155 over New York, with an over/under of nine runs. Early betting action then dipped the Dodgers to -145 and the total to 8.5.
Yanks vs. Dodgers Set-Up
New York just got swept three games at Oakland this week, losing Thursday’s series finale 5-3. Just before that, the Yankees split four games with Cleveland. So New York is just 2-5 over its last seven games.
At 83-46 overall the Yankees lead the AL East by eight games over second-place Tampa Bay, and they’re still one game up on Houston in the battle for the best record in the American League.
Los Angeles, meanwhile, just swept three games at home from Toronto, winning Thursday’s series finale 3-2 with a three-run rally in the bottom of the ninth. Just before that the Dodgers dropped two of three games to Atlanta, but just before that they took two of three from Miami. Going back a bit further Los Angeles is 16-5 over its last 21 games.
At 85-44 overall the Dodgers lead the NL West by 20.5 games over second-place Arizona, and they’re eight games up on the Braves in the battle for the best record in the National League.
Even bigger-picture, LA is two games ahead of New York in the battle for the best record in the Majors, and home-field advantage in the World Series that comes with it.
This series is the first meeting between these teams since 2016 when the Dodgers took two of three games from the Yankees at Yankee Stadium.
Friday’s Starting Arms
Lefty Ryu, by our strict standards, is 19/23 on quality starts this season and six for his last seven. Last Saturday he gave up four runs and six hits, including two home runs, through 5 2/3 innings of a 4-3 Los Angeles loss to Atlanta. But over his previous six starts he allowed just four runs – two earned – and 30 hits through 39 2/3 innings.
On the season the Dodgers are 17-6 with Ryu, 6-1 over his last seven starts.
This start will be Ryu’s first against the Yankees since 2013, and that’s a really long time ago in baseball time.
Fellow southpaw Paxton is 8/22 on quality starts this year and only two for his last six. Last Saturday he gave up four runs and six hits through five innings against the Indians, although New York won that game anyway 6-5. But over his last six starts, he’s allowed 24 runs – 21 earned – and 32 hits, including nine dingers, through 31 innings.
The Yanks are 13-9 with Paxton this year and 4-0 over his last four starts, although he can’t take all the credit for that.
This start will be Paxton’s first against the Dodgers since 2015 when he was with Seattle, and that’s also a long tie ago.
Friday’s Batting Splits
New York is batting .276/.349/.488 against left-handed pitching this season, which ranks this lineup among the top half-dozen in Baseball in this split. However, the Yankees have also been limited to a total of just 13 runs over their last four games.
Los Angeles is batting .253/.333/.451 against LH pitching this season.
The Bullpens
The Yankees bullpen owns a 4.10 ERA this season and a 1.33 WHIP while allowing a .727 OPS.
The Dodgers pen owns a 4.02 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP while allowing a .697 OPS. Numbers like those help this unit rank among the top seven or so bullpens in Baseball this season.
Totals Report
- Overs are 72-52 in Yankees games this season.
- Unders are 63-61 in Dodgers games this season.
- Unders are 34-28 in games played at Dodger Stadium this season.
- Overs are 14-7 with Paxton this season.
- Unders are 13-10 with Ryu this season.
- Get more details: Yankees at Dodgers MLB Match-up Stats
