MLB Lines: October 18th

Share News

MLB Lines: October 18th 

We could have the first World Series team of 2024 today. According to MLB Lines, let’s analyze both Championship Series matches and find the best bet. 

Los Angeles Dodgers vs New York Mets Game 5 

Game 5 of the NLCS will be played on Friday afternoon. The Los Angeles Dodgers (98-64) will look to close out the series against the New York Mets (89-73). 

The Dodgers dominated Game 4 with a 10-2 victory, one win away from advancing to the World Series. Games 6 and 7 will be back in Los Angeles should the Mets win. The Dodgers will start Jack Flaherty (3.17 ERA), while the Mets counter with David Peterson (2.90 ERA). The first pitch is set for 5:08 pm EST at Citi Field.

Los Angeles: One Win Away

The Dodgers have had a potent offense throughout the series and are now on the verge of clinching a World Series spot. They have scored at least eight runs in three of the four games in the NLCS, consistently covering the total on their own. In Game 4, Los Angeles hammered the Mets with home runs from Shohei Ohtani and Mookie Betts, resulting in a 10-2 win.

Manager Dave Roberts praised his team’s relentless approach, noting that they “haven’t let off the gas.” Ohtani set the tone early with a leadoff home run, his third of the postseason, adding to his impressive playoff resume with nine RBIs. Despite finishing the regular season with 54 home runs and 59 stolen bases, Ohtani has yet to steal a base in the playoffs. 

Betts, meanwhile, added to his strong postseason, homering for the third time, bringing his RBI total to ten while batting .278. Tommy Edman, who has found his rhythm at the plate, drove in three runs and is hitting .324 in the postseason.

Jack Flaherty will take the mound for the Dodgers after dominating the Mets in Game 1 of the series. He pitched seven scoreless innings in that outing, allowing just two hits and striking out six. 

Flaherty finished the regular season with a 13-7 record and a 3.17 ERA, ranking 13th in the league. His strikeout-to-walk ratio (194 K’s to 38 BBs) and his ability to limit home runs (24 allowed) make him a key asset for the Dodgers as they aim to close out the series.

New York: Must Win to Stay Alive

The Mets face elimination after struggling to contain the Dodgers’ offense in Game 4. After an impressive postseason run, New York needs a Friday win to keep their season alive. J

Jose Quintana, who had been strong in previous playoff outings, struggled in Game 4, allowing five earned runs in just 3.1 innings. Mark Vientos hit a first-inning home run, but the Mets couldn’t generate enough offense to keep up with the Dodgers’ onslaught.

Brandon Nimmo drove in a run with a fielder’s choice, but overall, the Mets’ top hitters failed to produce. Reflecting on the team’s situation, Nimmo acknowledged the challenge ahead, saying, “If we come back from this, then it’s going to be a heck of a story.” 

Vientos has been New York’s best hitter in the playoffs, leading the team with 11 RBIs, three home runs, and a .366 batting average. However, combined for just one hit in Game 4, Francisco Lindor and Pete Alonso need to step up if the Mets hope to extend the series. Lindor, Alonso, and Starling Marte have each driven in six or more RBIs in the playoffs, but their contributions have been inconsistent.

David Peterson will get the start for the Mets. Peterson, primarily a starter during the regular season, has been used in relief during the playoffs. Despite his postseason role, manager Carlos Mendoza confirmed that Peterson is fully rested and ready for a regular start. During the regular season, Peterson went 10-3 with a 2.90 ERA, and the Mets won eight consecutive games in his starts. However, Peterson hasn’t pitched more than four innings recently, which could be a challenge against a Dodgers lineup that has found its groove.

Prediction

The momentum is clearly with the Dodgers after their eight-run win in Game 4. Ohtani and Betts are heating up at the right time, while the Mets’ top players—Lindor and Alonso—have struggled to make an impact. 

With Flaherty on the mound, who dominated in Game 1, and the Mets relying on Peterson, who has been pitching in relief, Los Angeles has a clear edge. The Dodgers’ offense continues to produce, and their pitching has been solid, putting them in a prime position to close the series.

Prediction: Dodgers -135

New York Yankees vs Cleveland Guardians Game 4

Game 4 of the ALCS between the New York Yankees and Cleveland Guardians takes place Friday night in Cleveland. The Yankees won the first two series games at Yankee Stadium before Cleveland won an impressive 7-5 Game 3 in extra innings. 

Both teams will be looking to take control of the series. The Yankees will turn to Luis Gil (15-7, 3.50 ERA), while the Guardians counter with Ben Lively (13-10, 3.81 ERA). The first pitch is scheduled for 8:08 p.m. EST.

Yankees Hand the Ball to Gil

The New York Yankees are looking to bounce back after their challenging Game 3 loss, where they held a late 5-3 lead before giving up a game-tying two-run home run in the ninth and losing in extra innings. 

Closer Luke Weaver, who had been reliable throughout the season, allowed the game-tying home run in the ninth inning, while former closer Clay Holmes gave up the walk-off home run in the 10th.

Luis Gil gets the start for New York in Game 4, making his postseason debut. Gil finished the regular season with a 15-7 record and a 3.50 ERA, surpassing expectations for a pitcher who was not expected to play such a significant role this year. 

He went 9-3 on the road with a 3.43 ERA and struck out 78 batters in 76 innings. Gil faced Cleveland once during the regular season, lasting only three innings while allowing three runs and walking six batters.

The Yankees’ offense will look to rebound behind Gil after a missed opportunity in Game 3. Aaron Judge, who tied the game with a two-run blast in the eighth inning, has two postseason home runs. 

Giancarlo Stanton added another home run in the same inning, but it wasn’t enough to close the game. Judge and Stanton must continue their production to allow the Yankees to take a 3-1 series lead.

Guardians Look to Even the Series

The Cleveland Guardians kept their season alive with a dramatic Game 3 victory, where they rallied late and won on a David Frye walk-off home run in the 10th inning. The Guardians had struggled in the first two games, but their late-game heroics have reignited the series. Emmanuel Clase, who had been nearly flawless this season, gave up the game-tying home run to Judge in the eighth but will remain a crucial part of Cleveland’s bullpen strategy.

Ben Lively will start for the Guardians in Game 4. Lively finished the regular season with a 13-10 record and a 3.81 ERA over 29 starts. He was solid at home, going 8-3 with a 3.70 ERA. Lively’s ability to keep hitters off balance has been crucial, and he closed the season on a strong note, going 2-2 with a 3.15 ERA over his last five starts. Although Lively has been used sparingly in the postseason, the Guardians are counting on him to pitch deep into the game and hand things over to their bullpen.

The Guardians’ offense was sparked by pinch hitter Jhonkensy Noel, who tied the game in the ninth with a home run, and Frye, whose two-run shot won. Josh Naylor and José Ramírez, both key players in Cleveland’s lineup, will need to contribute more consistently for the Guardians to even the series.

Prediction

The Guardians’ Game 3 win gives them a huge confidence boost heading into Game 4. Lively has been consistent, especially at home, and with New York’s Gil coming off an extended layoff, Cleveland may have the advantage in the starting pitching matchup. 

If the Guardians’ bullpen can rebound after its shaky Game 3, and if the offense can continue to find timely hits, Cleveland could tie the series and shift momentum in their favor.

Prediction: Guardians -101