UPDATE: Dodgers vs. Yankees has been postponed on Saturday due to inclement weather. The game will be made up as the first half of a two-game doubleheader on Sunday 7/19.
It was the Dodgers (62-36) who emerged victorious on Friday, eking out a 2-1 victory in the Bronx. Now, the Yankees (54-43) will hope to respond by evening up this highly anticipated weekend series. It’ll be Emmet Sheehan on the mound for Los Angeles, opposed by New York starter Ryan Weathers. Which of these historic rivals will come out on top during Saturday’s potential World Series preview?
The Yankees are favorites (-113) over the Dodgers, with the over/under set at nine runs. Below, I’ve laid out my preview, prediction, and best bet for Saturday’s interleague showdown between Los Angeles and New York on DraftKings Sportsbook.
Dodgers vs. Yankees pick, best bet today
- Yankees ML (-113): In spite of Friday’s heartbreaking loss, the Yankees are in a decent spot tonight. Sheehan has struggled on the road, and the Dodgers are slightly less effective against left-handed pitching. If Weathers avoids leaning on his subpar fastball, New York should even up this series on Saturday.
Dodgers vs. Yankees prediction, preview
In spite of a mediocre day at the plate, Los Angeles managed to persevere during Friday’s pitching duel. Expecting another subpar offensive showing from the defending champs is wishful thinking. As a unit, the Dodgers are averaging the third-most runs per game in baseball (5.18). To boot, they rank fifth in home runs (128) and first in OPS (.774). Seven different hitters on the active roster with at least 100 plate appearances have a wRC+ above 100. Unsurprisingly, it’s superstar Shohei Ohtani leading the way with a .289/.400/.543 slash line and 22 dingers.
Safe to say, navigating this LA offense is quite the challenge. Still, Yankees hurler Ryan Weathers possesses elite stuff. Through 97.2 innings this season, the 26-year-old has notched a 4.15 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 110 strikeouts (10.1 K/9). His biggest issue has been a fastball with -8 run value. That’s one of the worst marks in baseball for any individual pitch. Last time out against the Nationals, Weathers only threw his four-seamer seven times. Unsurprisingly, he delivered a terrific 5.1-inning, one-run performance. A similar approach tonight could pay major dividends as well. The Dodgers are slashing .264/.355/.453 against fastballs this season. However, they’re hitting just .229 combined against the changeup and sweeper. Weathers has thrown one of those two offerings on 44% of his pitches this season.
Taking the hill for the visitors tonight will be Emmet Sheehan. Much like Weathers, the right-hander’s stuff hasn’t quite matched his production this season. A -7 fastball run value has derailed an otherwise potent arsenal. Unlike Weathers, LA’s starter hasn’t shown a major deviation when it comes to his pitch mix. Over 82.1 innings this season, Sheehan is on the hook for a 4.81 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 93 strikeouts (10.2 K/9). That includes a lackluster 5.05 ERA and 2.3 HR/9 ratio on the road.
Keeping the ball in the park will be crucial during tonight’s contest. The Yankees have clubbed an MLB-best 142 home runs this season. Granted, the power potential for this group has diminished with superstar Aaron Judge (ribs) on the injured list. Over their last 15 games, the Bronx Bombers have scored the fourth-fewest runs in baseball (58). Still, big bats such as Ben Rice (167 wRC+), Paul Goldschmidt (122 wRC+) and Cody Bellinger (116 wRC+) can do some damage. New York has a .421 slugging percentage vs. right-handed pitching, eighth-best in the majors.
Best Bet: Yankees ML (-113)
It’s never easy going against the Dodgers. That’s especially true considering how uninspiring New York’s offense has looked in recent weeks. With that being said, Weathers seems to have turned a corner. His non-fastball pitches have the potential to keep Los Angeles on its toes, at the very least. On the other side, Sheehan’s knack for coughing up homers on the road is cause for concern. In what is close to a pick ’em, I like the Yankees to even it up at home.
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