Tonight from Anaheim we find out if we have a series in the ALCS.
The American League Championship Series (ALCS) resumes tonight from Anaheim where the Los Angeles Angels 'of Anaheim' will be hosting the New York Yankees. The Angels hung tough last night as they beat the Yanks in extra innings but they are not coming in as a favorite tonight, still down 2-1 in the series. The reason for that is largely because C.C. Sabathia gets the start tonight for the Yankees and he has been tough all year.
Sabathia crushed the Angels in game 1 of the ALCS and with his presence on the mound the Yankees come in at -135 (20/27) road favorites with Players Only. The Angels are sending Scott Kazmir to the mound to keep any reasonable hopes alive in the ALCS and their price with
Players Only is set at +125 (5/4).
Sabathia's credentials hardly require comment as he went 19-8 in the regular season and has won two post-season games already. In those playoff performances he has gone nearly 15 total innings pitched while only giving up only 12 hits and 1 walk.
Scott Kazmir hardly compares to Sabathia as he, Kazmir, was fortunate to get a win in his only post-season outing so far against the Boston Red Sox. He gave up 5 earned runs in just 6 innings pitched but the offense for the Angels was there to bail Kazmir out. Kazmir has been good overall since joining the Angels but he's not a strong enough pitcher at this point in his career to counter Sabathia and the Angels look like they could be going down 3 games to 1.
Also, with the Yankees playing the Angels so tough in Anaheim last night, despite the narrow loss, any home field advantage looks puny.
Our recommendation is to take the Yankees to win this game with
Players Only at -135 (20/27).
By pitching Sabathia in game 1 and game 4, Sabathia looks like he would also pitch in game 7, if necessary. The Yankees are looking great for the ALCS pennant and you can still get the Yankees at -137 (100/137;
Paddy Power) to win the World Series. Since the American League representative will have home field advantage in that series (against Philly?) pounding the Yankees for the Fall Classic would be smart at this point as the odds on New York to win the World Series look like they could be shortening soon.