Cleveland Guardians @ New York Yankees - June 4, 2025

As the sun sets over Yankee Stadium, the buzz in the air is palpable. Tonight, we witness a clash between the Cleveland Guardians and our beloved New York Yankees. I’ve seen plenty of games in my time, but there’s something about a matchup like this that gets even a seasoned bettor like me excited.

Let’s dive into what we can expect. The Guardians will send Luis Ortiz to the mound, whose 2-6 record doesn’t inspire confidence, especially with his ERA sitting around 4.1. A pitcher with those numbers facing off against one of the most formidable lineups in baseball? It’s a tough sell for any bettor looking at value. However, Ortiz has had moments where he’s kept games competitive—he just needs to find that consistency.

On the other side, Clarke Schmidt takes his turn for the Yankees. He may not have an overwhelming record at 2-2, but his ERA of 3.8 shows he can keep runs at bay when needed. Yet here’s where it gets interesting: Schmidt’s strikeout rate is impressive and could be key against a Guardians lineup that’s been inconsistent all season long.

Now let’s talk offense—what both teams bring to the plate tells an intriguing story. The Yankees average about 5.5 runs per game with nearly nine hits—a solid performance that should make any bettor consider them as favorites tonight despite their recent struggles against the spread (1-5 ATS). But here’s my hunch: if Ortiz can somehow keep it close early on, things might get dicey for New York.

And then there’s Cleveland’s batting stats; they average just over four runs per game with a below-average batting average of .229. That means they’re reliant on pitching to stay competitive more than anything else; otherwise, they’re likely going down swinging in this one.

Given how both teams have played recently—Cleveland going UNDER in 13 of their last 19 games—I can see why oddsmakers opened this total at nine runs. But I’m feeling a bit risky tonight; I believe we’ll see more fireworks than expected and would lean towards taking the OVER on that total.

Here’s my prediction: The Guardians pull off an upset tonight—not because they are necessarily better statistically across the board but because baseball is unpredictable like that sometimes! With Ortiz having one of those “on” nights and Schmidt struggling to find his groove consistently lately, it could lead to Cleveland sneaking through with a narrow victory.

In conclusion, expect drama under those bright lights at Yankee Stadium—an upset brewing along with some runs flying across home plate like it’s Fourth of July out there! Place your bets wisely and remember my old saying: never underestimate the power of momentum in this beautiful game we love so much!