The Los Angeles Dodgers entered Game 4 with a stranglehold on the World Series, up three games to none, and appeared to be on their way to a clean sweep after another homerun from first basemen Freddie Freeman.
But, the Yankees did not roll over.
It took some theatrics from a couple of Yankees' fans down the right-field line on a play where they grabbed Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts' glove, but it was strangely the spark they needed.
Behind an Anthony Volpe Grand Slam, the Yankees offense finally woke up. I'm not saying the Yankees can make history and pull off an epic 3-0 comeback, but they are indeed back in the driver's seat to send the series back to Los Angeles on Friday.
$324 million man Gerrit Cole gets the ball for Game 5, and he'll again match up with Game 1 foe Jack Flaherty. I built a three-leg Yankees vs Dodgers parlay that pays over 10-1 on your original investment.
Yankees vs Dodgers Parlay for World Series Game 5
- Yankees F5 Alt Run Line -0.5 (-132)
- F5 Under 4.5 (-130)
- Anthony Rizzo Over 1.5 Total Bases (+195)
Parlay Odds: +1035 (FanDuel)
Remember to bet responsibly — this is a long shot for a reason.
Although I do not expect the same offensive production from both clubs, I give the Yankees the edge in the first five innings tonight. With the Dodgers having all their high-leverage arms available out of the bullpen tonight, I would instead target the Yankees for the early portion of the game.
Besides Cole's excellent history against the Dodgers lineup, the significance of Shohei Ohtani's injury must be discussed. I'd be shocked if Ohtani was at 100% health for the remainder of the series, and it's clear that the injury is impacting him.
Let's face it: he is insanely talented, but any player with a shoulder injury will be impacted offensively. That is a massive blow to the top of the Dodgers lineup, and despite being surrounded by other superstar hitters, it will affect how Cole attacks the top of the order.
I also want to mention that Flaherty has had lingering back issues since the beginning of the season, so pitching on four days' rest on a brisk night at Yankee Stadium is not the most straightforward assignment.
The Yankees lineup has gotten to Flaherty in the past, and they should have capitalized with ducks on the pond during his start in Game One.
Last night appeared to be a turning point for the Yankees, and I'll happily back them and their horse for the early portion of tonight's game.
After an offensive outburst last night, we will see a much lower-scoring contest tonight.
Cole was outstanding in Game 1, and his one earned run was a fluke due to some poor Yankees defense.
He has dominated the Dodgers hitters, except for Freddie Freeman. Freeman has been dealing with an ankle injury for the past couple of weeks, but he's hit a home run in every game of the series.
Even with Freeman's excellent numbers, the Dodgers are batting .257 lifetime against Cole in over 148 at-bats. Let's also not dismiss that Ohtani is playing with one arm right now, as he's been uncomfortable at the plate.
Meanwhile, Flaherty silenced the Yankees bats in Game 1, an outlier compared to his experience against these hitters. The Bomber bats still have a career average of over .300 against him in his lifetime, so there is concern that he may not look as sharp.
Regardless, even if Flaherty is touched up early, I am sure Dave Roberts will quickly pull the hook after he did not use any of his high-leverage arms throughout Game 4.
It's not panic mode for the Dodgers if they trail early, but in the back of Roberts' mind, I know he does not want to extend the series further. He, of all people, should understand that no series lead is safe.
I bet this prop in Game 1, and Anthony Rizzo fell short.
However, I have not changed my stance on him, and I still love his matchup against Flaherty.
Rizzo only has one extra-base hit in the postseason thus far, but he is 8-for-26 overall. He is still dealing with two fractured fingers, but it does not have impacted him at the plate.
Yes, he may have even less power than usual, but he is 10-for-23 lifetime against Flaherty with three home runs. The line is mispriced due to his recent performances over the past few games, but it is worth noting that he is batting right in the thick of the Yankees lineup.
He hit .228 in limited plate appearances during the regular season, but his average ticked up a bit against right-handers. Rizzo is not hitting the ball nearly as hard as he had in the past, but his chase and whiff rates are in excellent form.
Rizzo should get at least two at-bats against Flaherty, and I would not be surprised if he knocked a couple of hits tonight. Regardless, he'll have at least four plate appearances to pick up an extra-base hit or better, and I am not passing up these odds, given the matchup.
