ACLCS: Game 3
I’m excited about the ALCS. The two teams that deserve to be there are there. The Yankees are the powerhouse of a few years ago returning to glory, and the Angels are the powerhouse of the past few years who have yet to get over the hump. Both teams are disciplined and win the right way.
Jered Weaver, who pitched game 2 against the Red Sox, will take the mound for the Angels in Game 3 and face battle-tested veteran Andy Pettitte. Andy was solid in his one game pitching against the Twins, giving up just 1 earned run in more than six innings of work. His overall numbers for the season were average, especially for being in the Yankees, and you do have to wonder about age vs. experience at this point in the sportsbook.com playoffs with a guy like him. Still, he knows how to win. Is there anyone else on their staff right now you’d want with the ball in his hand in a big game?
Weaver, likewise, was a start in Round 1. He matched the one earned run, but over 7.1 innings, and K’d seven in the process. Weaver had four complete games this season, two of which were shutouts. He knows how to keep the ball on the ground and force the Yankees to make a play on the bases.
I’m guessing the line will be very tight, perhaps slightly in the Angels favor. -115 Angels, +110 Yankees. And depending on whether they can manage a split in New York, the Angels will have incredible drive to go up on the series when they return home, or prevent themselves from falling further into an 0-3 hole. The Yankees know all about those.
Playoff baseball is usually pitcher-driven by this point, and the over/under in the sports betting world will reflect that. I’d be comfortable taking the over here, though, as it might be too adjusted, and I think both offenses are clicking to the point where you’ll see a few runs on both sides.