MLB Lines: NLDS Game 2 and ALCS Game 1

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MLB Lines: NLDS Game 2 and ALCS Game 1

A few hours after the Los Angeles Dodgers stomped on the New York Mets, the series will head towards game two. On the other side of the bracket, the New York Yankees will host the Cleveland Guardians in what promises to be an outstanding American League Championship Series. Let’s analyze MLB Lines and try to find the best bet. 

Mets vs Dodgers

Game 2 of the National League Championship Series (NLCS) will be played on Monday afternoon. The New York Mets (89-73) will face the Los Angeles Dodgers (98-64).

The Dodgers took Game 1 with a commanding 9-0 win. Both teams will compete to move closer to the World Series, with the Mets looking to rebound after a challenging opening game and the Dodgers seeking to continue their dominant postseason run. 

The Mets will send Sean Manaea (3.47 ERA) to the mound, while the Dodgers have yet to announce their starting pitcher. MLB Lines and fan predictions heavily focus on how these teams will adjust for Game 2.

New York Mets

The Mets are coming off a lackluster performance in Game 1, where they were held to only three hits, none of which came from their top five batters. Manager Carlos Mendoza cited the effectiveness of Dodgers’ starter Jack Flaherty, who kept the Mets’ offense off balance with a mix of fastballs and breaking pitches.

The Mets, who have had a strong postseason run, will need their key players like Pete Alonso and Francisco Lindor to step up in Game 2.

Despite trade rumors earlier in the season, Alonso has been a clutch performer in the playoffs, including a home run in the Wild Card round against the Brewers. Alonso hit 34 home runs with 88 RBIs during the regular season. 

Francisco Lindor, another central figure, tallied 33 home runs, 91 RBIs, and 29 stolen bases as the team’s leadoff hitter. Third baseman Mark Vientos has been a postseason standout, hitting over .400 with two home runs. Brandon Nimmo, another offensive weapon, closed the season with 23 home runs and 15 stolen bases.

Sean Manaea will take the mound for the Mets, coming off a strong postseason performance, where he allowed just one earned run over seven innings against the Phillies. He finished the regular season with a 12-6 record, 184 strikeouts, and a 3.47 ERA, ranking among the top 20 in ERA across the league. In his only start against the Dodgers this season, Manaea gave up two earned runs over five innings.

Los Angeles Dodgers

The Dodgers’ offense dominated Game 1, scoring nine runs and benefiting from a standout performance by Jack Flaherty, who pitched seven scoreless innings. 

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts praised Flaherty for his efficient pitching, which set the tone for the team’s victory. Mookie Betts added a three-RBI double in the 8th inning to cap off the scoring for the Dodgers.

Los Angeles has been a powerhouse throughout the season, finishing second in runs scored, third in home runs, and fifth in team batting average. 

Shohei Ohtani has been the face of the offense, finishing the season with 54 home runs and 59 stolen bases, becoming the first player to reach 50 home runs and stolen bases in the same season. Ohtani, the Dodgers’ designated hitter, finished the season with a .310 batting average. Mookie Betts, who batted .289 with 19 home runs and 79 RBIs, also contributed heavily from the second spot in the lineup. 

Freddie Freeman added 22 home runs and 88 RBIs, while Teoscar Hernandez hit 33 home runs and collected 99 RBIs from the cleanup spot.

The Dodgers will go with a bullpen game for Game Two due to Flaherty’s work in the first duel. Buehler had a tough season with a 1-6 record and a 5.38 ERA, so he’s slated for Game 3. Los Angeles relies on a pitching staff that ranked 13th in team ERA at 3.90.

Prediction

Game 2 presents a critical moment for the Mets, who will look to their ace, Sean Manaea, to keep them in the series. The Dodgers’ Game 1 success came from dominant pitching and timely hitting, but their uncertainty around a starting pitcher for Game 2 could be a vulnerability. 

Manaea’s solid form and the likelihood that the Mets’ offense rebounds make this a closer matchup. Expect the Mets to adjust, especially after their top five batters went hitless in Game 1. Look for a bounce-back performance from New York, evening the series at 1-1.

Pick: Mets Moneyline (+120) 

Yankees vs. Guardians

The American League Championship Series (ALCS) opens with a matchup between the AL Central Champion Cleveland Guardians and the AL East Champion New York Yankees. The Guardians survived a five-game series against the Tigers, while the Yankees dispatched the Royals in four. 

In Game 1, veteran Guardians right-hander Alex Cobb (2-1, 2.76 ERA) will face off against Yankees’ left-hander Carlos Rodon (16-9, 3.96 ERA).

Cleveland Guardians

The Guardians advanced to the ALCS with a decisive win over Detroit in Game 5, fueled by Lane Thomas’s grand slam that broke open a 1-1 tie. Cleveland’s bullpen played a key role, using eight pitchers in Game 5, including two scoreless innings from closer Emmanuel Clase. First-year manager Stephen Vogt acknowledged the tough challenge ahead, with the Yankees taking four of six games in their regular-season meetings.

Cleveland’s offense will need more production from All-Stars Jose Ramirez and Josh Naylor, who have combined for only four RBIs in the playoffs. Left fielder Steven Kwan has been a standout, hitting .524 in the previous series, while Lane Thomas led the team with nine RBIs and two home runs.

Alex Cobb will take the mound for Cleveland in Game 1. Despite limited action this season, Cobb posted a 2.76 ERA in eight starts and has experience pitching in Yankee Stadium from his time with the Tampa Bay Rays. He has yet to face the Yankees this season and will likely be on a short leash in this game, as he’s not expected to pitch deep into the game.

New York Yankees

The Yankees enter the ALCS after an intense series win over the Royals. Gerrit Cole led the charge in Game 4 with a stellar seven-inning performance, while the Yankees’ bullpen extended its postseason scoreless streak to 15.2 innings. 

Big hits from players like Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge helped New York advance, though the latter has struggled in the playoffs, hitting just .154 without an RBI so far.

Carlos Rodon will start for the Yankees in Game 1. Rodon finished the regular season with a 16-9 record and a 3.96 ERA, but he struggled in his first playoff start, going just 3.2 innings while giving up seven hits and four runs. Despite this, Rodon has been strong at home, posting a 9-2 record and a 3.11 ERA at Yankee Stadium. He’ll be looking to bounce back in Game 1.

Prediction

The Guardians will again rely on their bullpen, with Alex Cobb unlikely to pitch deep into the game. On the other hand, the Yankees will lean on Carlos Rodon, who can dominate at home. With New York’s bullpen in excellent form and the team well-rested, they should have the upper hand in Game 1. Expect the Yankees to capitalize on Cleveland’s inconsistent offense.

Pick: Yankees -1.5 (+130)