This is a 10* on NYY

The Yankees and Indians meet in perhaps the most evenly matched Round 1 series. A late regular season charge got Cleveland home field here but there was a lot of Detroit and Pittsburgh mixed in there. Also, don’t forget the Indians had an eight-game losing streak at the start of the month. Their lineup can really struggle to score runs at times. They barely averaged more than four runs/game during the regular season, which is why they didn’t finish higher in the standings, despite the excellent pitching. They scored three runs or less in nearly half their games (27 times!). As good as Game 1 starter Shane Bieber was in the regular season, he is untested in the playoffs. Can’t say the same for the Yankees Gerrit Cole, who is a postseason veteran. The Yankees also won his L3 regular season starts - by a combined score of 31-3! We think a Yankees lineup that is now as healthy as it’s been all year can get to Bieber. Cole’s ERA and WHIP - 0.86 and 0.62 - in his last three starts was every bit as good as Bieber. The Indians just don’t score enough! Play on NY YANKEES

AAA