CLEVELAND — Kicking off an MLB postseason unlike any other in league history, the Cleveland Indians will host the New York Yankees in Game 1 of the best-of-three American League Wild Card Series at Progressive Field on Tuesday.
What follows is everything you need to know about the Indians' 2020 MLB Playoffs opener:
Game info, how to watch on TV, betting odds:
Date: Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020
Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
Location: Progressive Field in Cleveland, Ohio
TV channel: ESPN
Live Stream: Watch ESPN
Radio: WTAM 1100, WMMS 100.7, Cleveland Indians Radio Network, ESPN Radio
Betting line: Cleveland -105, New York -105
Over-under runs: 6.5
Projected lineups, starting pitchers
Indians
- Francisco Lindor - SS
- Cesar Hernandez - 2B
- Jose Ramirez - 3B
- Carlos Santana - 1B
- Franmil Reyes - DH
- Tyler Naquin - RF
- Jordan Luplow - LF
- Roberto Perez - C
- Delino DeShields Jr - CF
Starting pitcher: Shane Bieber (RHP)
Yankees
- DJ LeMahieu - 2B
- Aaron Judge - RF
- Aaron Hicks - CF
- Giancarlo Stanton - DH
- Luke Voit - 1B
- Gio Urshela - 3B
- Gleyber Torres - SS
- Gary Sanchez - C
- Clint Frazier - LF
Starting pitcher: Gerrit Cole (RHP)
Preview
After entering the final day of the 2020 regular season as the American League's No. 7 seed, the Indians find themselves with home-field advantage following a win over the Pittsburgh Pirates coupled with a Chicago White Sox loss to the Chicago Cubs. As a result, all games in the best-of-three series between the Indians and Yankees will be played at Progressive Field.
Tuesday's Game 1 is headlined by a pitching matchup featuring two of the best in all of baseball. The MLB's first Triple Crown winner since 2006, Shane Bieber will toe the rubber for Cleveland, while Gerrit Cole will take the mound for New York.
Monday's matchup may very well come down to which pitcher can outlast the other. Whoever loses will find themselves facing elimination in Game 2 on Wednesday.
Prediction
Bieber outlasts Cole in a pitchers duel that lives up to its billing. Jose Ramirez's magic run continues as the Indians take a 1-0 lead.
Prediction: Indians 3, Yankees 1