The decisive game of the 2024 MLB Little League Classic between the New York Yankees and the Detroit Tigers is set to take place on Sunday evening, with both teams eager to clinch the series. The series is currently tied 1-1, setting the stage for an intense finale at Journey Bank Ballpark in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
Series Recap
The Yankees took the series opener with a commanding 3-0 victory on Friday, showcasing their dominant form. The Tigers, however, bounced back on Saturday, shutting out the Yankees 4-0 to even the series. This back-and-forth battle has heightened the anticipation for Sunday’s showdown.
Team Performance
The Yankees, leading the American League East with a strong 73-51 record, have been formidable against AL Central teams this season, boasting a 20-4 record. Detroit, on the other hand, sits fourth in the AL Central with a 60-64 record but has held their own against AL East teams with a 10-9 record.
Pitching Matchup
Detroit will rely on their ace Tarik Skubal, who has been nothing short of spectacular this season. Skubal holds a 14-4 record with an impressive 2.53 ERA. Across 24 starts, he has allowed 42 earned runs and 29 walks, striking out a remarkable 180 batters in 149.1 innings. Skubal’s recent form has been particularly impressive, with six wins in his last seven decisions.
New York’s starting pitcher Marcus Stroman will be eager to match Skubal's performance. Stroman has an 8-6 record with a 4.01 ERA. Over 23 starts this season, he has allowed 54 earned runs and 52 walks, striking out 87 batters in 121.1 innings. His last outing saw him pitch five solid innings, conceding just one earned run in an 8-7 victory over the Texas Rangers.
Stroman's previous encounter with Detroit this season ended in a no-decision, conceding one earned run over 5.1 innings in a game the Yankees eventually won 2-1.
Offensive Standouts
Infielder Colt Keith will look to continue contributing for the Tigers. Keith went 2-for-4 with an RBI on Saturday, raising his season stats to a .251 batting average with 11 doubles, three triples, 11 homers, and 44 RBIs across 112 games. His performance in night games has been notable, with seven homers and several extra-base hits.
Aaron Judge remains a key player for the Yankees, currently on a six-game hitting streak. Judge has delivered four multi-hit performances in his last six outings. In Friday's win over Texas, he went 3-for-3 with a homer and two runs scored, followed by a double in four at-bats on Saturday. Judge's season numbers are impressive, sporting a .332 average with 29 doubles, one triple, 44 homers, and 111 RBIs over 122 games.
Game Outlook
As of the latest odds, Detroit is positioned as a slight favorite with a -123 money line, and the over/under is set at 7.5 runs. The first pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. ET, promising a thrilling conclusion to this tightly contested series.
The SportsLine Projection Model forecasts 8.6 combined runs for the game, suggesting that fans can expect a competitive and high-stakes match.