Both the Cleveland Indians and the New York Yankees are looking to make progress this year and end their years long skid. The Indians are coming off a very poor season in 2017, finishing with a dismal 77-85 record and missing the playoffs for the first time in almost a decade. The Yankees had their worst season in almost 70 years, winning just 29 games and ending up out of the playoffs for only the second time in the last six years. The teams combined for 16 overtime games last year, meaning there was plenty of excitement and nail biting as the regular season came to an end.
You might be asking yourself, “What are the Cleveland Indians New York Yankees betting odds?” Below we will examine each team’s opening line and provide some helpful information regarding betting on baseball in general. Let’s get started.
Cleveland Indians
The last time the Indians made the playoffs was in 2007 when they swept the Tampa Bay Rays in three games in the ALDS. Since then, they’ve missed the postseason on four occasions, including in 2015 when they finished second in the AL Central and in 2016 when they finished in fourth place. There’s a reason the Indians haven’t made it to the postseason in a long time; they haven’t been very good, posting a.500 win percentage in the regular season since 2008. This year should be different as they brought in a number of new faces, including some high profile free agents like James Shields and Jason Kipnis. The former will serve as the team’s starting pitcher while the latter will be relied upon to produce at a high level. Behind the plate, they’ve got a talented young catcher in Roberto Perez who is expected to improve upon last year’s lackluster numbers. It’s clear that the Indians have turned a corner and are looking to make some noise in 2018.
New York Yankees
Like the Indians, the Yankees also missed the playoffs last year for the first time since 2012. They finished in fourth place in the AL East with a record of 75-87, a 13 win improvement from the previous season. They’ve had occasional peaks, making the playoffs in six of the last seven years but have mostly been a.500 club. There were a lot of behind-the-scenes changes, as Brian Cashman was replaced by Brian McNamee, who brought in some much needed modern MLB tactics. McNamee and the Yankees staff had success in integrating advanced metrics into their game, using stats like wOBA (weighted on-base average) and WAR (wins above replacement) to evaluate player performance. With some of the top statistical analysts in baseball using these metrics, it’s clear that the Yankees are trying to take a step forward in 2018.
The Yankees have some of the all-time great names in baseball history, including Joe Torre, Yogi Berra, and Mickey Mantle. Those guys don’t just put a “NY” on their hats, they embody the spirit of the team and have been a part of the postseason in all but one season since they were established in 1921. There will always be hope for the Yankees to make a comeback, and that starts with a healthy Michael Pineda pitching again this year. Since 2012, Pineda has been one of the premier postseason arms, going 18-5 with a 3.22 ERA and eight total wins in 26 playoff games (nine starts). There’s a good chance he’ll be back in the postseason this year, and the Yankees will need him if they have any hope of getting back to the top. For the time being, they’re going to have to make do with what they’ve got, which is plenty. The AL East will be a battle all season long, but most likely, we’ll have to wait until the season is over to see which team prevails.
How Do I Bet On Baseball?
If you’re reading this, chances are, you’re either a baseball fan or you know one. If you’re a fan of either team mentioned above, then you probably already know how to place a bet on baseball. If however, this is the first time you’re hearing of baseball betting, then here’s how it works. A ‘bookmaker’ will take your wager and apply the appropriate percentage of winning bets to your credit or debit card. The vast majority of bookmakers will only accept wagers on sporting events with an outcome already determined, like the NCAA basketball tournament or the Super Bowl. Some bookmakers, however, will take bets on almost anything, as long as there’s an angle that things can go wrong. If you want to place a wager on Monday Night Football, for example, you probably shouldn’t do it with a bookmaker you’ve never used before.
If you’re just wanting to place a straight up wager on the game, you might consider putting money on the Over/Under (OV) for runs scored. This is widely accepted when placing a wager on baseball and the majority of books will take this bet. Simply head over to our sportsbooks and place your wager. If you think, for example, that the over is favored to win the World Series, you might want to make your wager on the Over/Under option for runs scored in the Fall Classic. There are countless options when it comes to placing a bet on baseball, so feel free to explore our sportsbooks and see which one suits your needs best. You can also contact us directly if you have questions regarding any facet of placing a bet on baseball. We’re more than happy to help you out any way we can!