After the Guardians dropped the first two games of the ALDS at home, things looked bleak. Tee times were being secured, cabanas reserved, and ping pong tables were about to be unfolded. But Cleveland battled back, ripping up reservations and turning over tables as the offense erupted for nine runs in back-to-back games, forcing a decisive Game 5 at Progressive Field.
Sean Burke gets the nod for Chicago, while Gavin Williams takes the mound for Cleveland. Both guys pitched in Game 2, with Burke earning the win. The White Sox opened with Anthony Kay, then Sean Newcomb went two innings. Burke delivered 5.1 strong innings of long relief, allowing just one earned run on one hit and a walk with six strikeouts. Williams started for the Guardians and threw five innings of two-run ball on four hits and three walks, striking out 11.
Cleveland is a 1.5-run home favorite with -137 moneyline odds on DraftKings Sportsbook. Chicago is a +114 underdog, with the game total set at O/U seven runs.
Set your DraftKings fantasy baseball lineups here: MLB Showdown $60K Relay Throw [$20K to 1st] (CWS @ CLE)
Captain’s Picks
Gavin Williams ($18,600 CP) – After throwing 18 pitches in Thursday’s Game 4, Williams is good to go for the ALDS finale. According to manager Stephen Vogt, “Gavin wants the ball. We want him to have the ball, and it’s his game. And the game will tell us when it’s time to move on, or maybe he takes it the whole way.” That’s encouraging, because Williams should stay in the game until he can no longer go — or is no longer effective.
In 184.1 regular-season innings, Williams posted a 3.47 FIP and a 25.1% K-BB%. The Statcast numbers weren’t great, though, with him posting an average exit velocity of 90.2 mph and an 11.4% barrel rate. In four regular-season starts against Chicago this year, Williams posted a 3.98 ERA on 17 hits (including two home runs) and eight walks with 28 strikeouts over 20.1 innings. Williams was a beast at home this year, posting a 2.82 FIP and a 27.1 K-BB%. In Game 2, Williams finished with 25 FPTS.
UTIL Plays
Sean Burke ($10,400) – Both Williams and Burke are strong pitchers and will likely be the best point source on this slate. In 172.1 regular-season innings, Burke posted a 3.62 FIP and a 17.2% K-BB%. In three regular-season outings against the Guardians, he posted a 1.04 ERA on 17 hits (including two home runs), three walks and 21 strikeouts over 17.1 frames. He put up 24.8 FPTS in Game 2.
Tristan Peters ($5,400) – Peters isn’t the most fantasy-friendly batter, with an 87.5 mph average exit velocity, a 5.4% barrel rate, and a 69.7 mph bat speed. That said, he owns a .172 ISO with a mere 18.3% strikeout rate. Over the regular season, he hit .265 with 12 home runs, 63 runs, 56 RBIs, and eight stolen bases. Peters is only 1-for-9 against Williams in his career, but he had an epic 18-pitch battle that ended in a walk in mid-September.
Steven Kwan ($6,400) – Kwan bats leadoff and has racked up fantasy goodies in every game this series. Even when he went hitless in Game 1, Kwan drew a walk and produced two FPTS. So far this series, Kwan has three hits, four runs, an RBI, three walks, and only one strikeout. In his career against Burke, Kwan is 4-for-15 with two doubles, a triple, three walks, and just one K.
Fades
Munetaka Murakami ($9,400) – The power is real, as Murakami hit 35 home runs with a .271 ISO during the regular season. However, he posted a bloated 35.4% strikeout rate; in this series, Murakami has struck out seven times in 15 at-bats. Murakami is 2-for-7 with a home run against Williams in his career, though he’s struck out four times.
