Kevin Davies
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It’s time for the Conference Series! The NLCS began last night with the Dodgers thrashing the Mets to take a 1-0 series lead and the ALCS will kick off tonight in the Bronx between the Guardians and Yankees. I have a pick for both games tonight, so let’s get right into the action with my ALCS and NLCS best bets for Monday, October 14! You can also find out our MLB picks for each of today’s games and every matchup throughout the postseason.
Los Angeles Dodgers ML over New York Mets (-142)
Available at FanDuel Sportsbook at time of publishing
The Dodgers’ postseason rotation has been composed of Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Jack Flaherty, Walker Buehler and To Be Determined. The injury bug got to the Dodgers rotation in the second half of the season and Tyler Glasnow and Clayton Kershaw have been sidelined. That’s forced the Dodgers to have a hole in their postseason rotation which means “To Be Determined” has been the starter every few games. That usually means Ryan Brasier will start and be followed by 7 or more relievers. The Dodgers last used a bullpen game in Game 4 of the NLDS against the Padres, and 8 different arms managed to hold the San Diego lineup scoreless for 9 innings. A bullpen game has worked brilliantly for the Dodgers in the postseason so far and I think it could work again tonight since L.A. only had to use 2 relievers in last night’s blowout win.
As for the offense, the Dodgers will have to face Sean Manaea. The southpaw was phenomenal in the second half of the season and has been arguably the Mets’ best starter in the postseason. However, the Dodgers’ lineup has seen Manaea well in their careers. Between Mookie Betts, Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, Teoscar Hernandez and Will Smith, they are a combined 29-for-89 (.325) against Manaea. I’m taking the better offense and bullpen to win again on Monday night.
Read our full New York Mets vs LA Dodgers prediction
Cleveland Guardians ML over New York Yankees (+136)
Available at FanDuel Sportsbook at time of publishing
Game 1 of the ALCS begins on Monday night in the Bronx. Alex Cobb and Carlos Rodon have been tabbed as the probable starters for tonight’s series opener. The Yankees are the favorites since they are on their home field and oddsmakers believe they have the pitching advantage. However, I’m not so sure about the second part. Rodon got hit hard in the ALDS against the Royals as he surrendered 4 runs, 7 hits and 1 home run in just 3.2 innings. He still struck out 7, but when he wasn’t getting a swing and miss, he was letting up hard contact.
Rodon will be countered by Cobb, a veteran who joined the Guardians rotation late in the season. Cobb posted a 2.75 ERA and 1.04 WHIP in 3 starts in the regular season and made his first start of the postseason against the Tigers in the ALDS. He lasted only 3 innings and allowed 2 runs and 3 hits, but I’m not deterred at all. The veteran is a ground-ball pitcher who is only in for the first few innings. Cobb is backed by the best bullpen in baseball that had yesterday to rest, so I’m expecting plenty of relievers to be used tonight. At these odds, I like Cobb and the Cleveland bullpen to pull off the upset.
Read our full Cleveland Guardians vs New York Yankees prediction
