We have seen some quality pitching during the AL Division Series matchup between the New York Yankees and the Cleveland Guardians.
We have seen Shane Bieber dictate a command masterclass in Game 2 and the Guardians bullpen show just how overpowering it can be.
We have seen Gerrit Cole dominate two of the games and Luis Severino come back strong after a disastrous start of his outing.
Game 5, the last one of the series, will be played on Monday night, and all signs indicate it will not be a pitching duel.
For starters, both teams will not be sending their aces to the mound: Jameson Taillon and Aaron Civale will take the hill tonight.
The Strike Zone For Game 5 Could Be Very Small
They aren’t bad by any means, but they are no Bieber or Cole and that’s a fact.
Secondly, there is this:
“Alan Porter is the home plate umpire for Guardians/Yankees Game 5 Porter has the most HITTER-FRIENDLY strike zone in MLB by our measures – Doesn’t widen the corners – Doesn’t call high pitches strikes as often as others. 2022 ERA when he umps: 4.85 (2nd-highest in MLB),” SIS Baseball tweeted.
Alan Porter is the home plate umpire for Guardians/Yankees Game 5
Porter has the most HITTER-FRIENDLY strike zone in MLB by our measures
– Doesn't widen the corners
– Doesn't call high pitches strikes as often as others2022 ERA when he umps: 4.85 (2nd-highest in MLB) pic.twitter.com/0GhurCIjVL
— SIS_Baseball (@sis_baseball) October 17, 2022
Well, there you have it: umpires have been an issue during the series, affecting both teams with lousy balls and strikes calls.
Tonight, it could be more of the same but favoring hitters: we may see some hittable pitches that look like strikes be called balls because the umpire has a tight zone and doesn’t expand it often.
Civale could be affected by the “doesn’t widen the corners” part, and Taillon by the “doesn’t call high pitches strikes as often as others” part.
Chances of a slugfest tonight at the Bronx are quite high.
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