As the 2024 MLB Little League Classic is poised to culminate in a thrilling matchup, baseball fans are eagerly anticipating the third and deciding game between the New York Yankees and the Detroit Tigers this Sunday evening. With the series intriguingly tied at 1-1, the excitement is palpable.
Yankees and Tigers Neck and Neck
The New York Yankees set the tone for the series by clinching a 3-0 victory in the series opener on Friday. The Detroit Tigers, however, came roaring back with a solid 4-0 win on Saturday, evening the score and setting up a high-stakes finale. Both teams’ performances thus far suggest that the deciding game will be nothing short of a nail-biter.
Yankees Riding High in AL East
Leading the American League East with an impressive 73-51 record, the Yankees have showcased their dominance, particularly against AL Central teams, boasting a 20-4 record this season. They’ll look to leverage this advantage as they vie for the series win. Aaron Judge, currently on a six-game hitting streak, has been a standout performer. Judge not only went 3-for-3 with a homer and two runs scored in Friday’s victory but also doubled in four at-bats on Saturday. His season stats are nothing short of remarkable, with a .332 average, 29 doubles, one triple, 44 homers, and 111 RBI over 122 games.
Tigers Aim to Overcome the Odds
The Tigers, sitting fourth in the AL Central with a 60-64 record, have shown they can hold their own against AL East teams, accumulating a respectable 10-9 record. Key to their success on Saturday was infielder Colt Keith, who went 2-for-4 with an RBI. Keith has been a consistent contributor throughout the season, batting .251 with 11 doubles, three triples, 11 homers, and 44 RBI in 112 games. His performance in night games has been particularly noteworthy, with four doubles, three triples, and seven homers.
Pitching Matchup
The mound will be a focal point on Sunday, with Detroit’s Tarik Skubal facing off against New York’s Marcus Stroman. Skubal, with a stellar 14-4 record and a 2.53 ERA, has been in exceptional form, allowing just 109 hits, 42 earned runs, and 29 walks while striking out 180 batters over 149.1 innings in 24 starts. His recent form is equally impressive, with six wins in his last seven decisions.
On the other side, Stroman enters the game with an 8-6 record and a 4.01 ERA. Over 121.1 innings in 23 starts, he has given up 118 hits, 54 earned runs, and 52 walks while striking out 87 batters. Stroman's last outing saw him pitch five innings, allowing one earned run on four hits in an 8-7 victory over the Texas Rangers. His previous encounter with the Tigers this season resulted in a no-decision in a 2-1 Yankees win, during which he pitched 5.1 innings, allowing three hits and one earned run.
Odds and Expectations
The latest odds have Detroit as the -123 favorite on the money line, and with the over/under set at 7.5 runs, the expectations are high for a thrilling contest. The SportsLine Projection Model forecasts 8.6 combined runs, hinting at an intense and potentially high-scoring game.
Fans at Journey Bank Ballpark in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, can look forward to a memorable showdown with the first pitch scheduled for 7:10 p.m. ET. With both teams displaying resilience and strong form, the final game promises to be a fitting climax to what has been an engrossing series.