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NEW YORK — Fresh off a 5-2 win in Game 1, the Yankees have an opportunity to take control of the ALCS from the Guardians before this series even touches down in Cleveland later this week.
It’s on the Guardians now to flip the script and even this series up after Monday’s opener played right into the Yankees’ strengths as an offense. New York’s batters walked seven times in Game 1, while Cleveland’s lineup worked just one free pass to go alongside 14 strikeouts. That formula won’t work, especially with the Yankees holding a clear power advantage, but Game 2 starter Gerrit Cole knows the Guardians’ lineup can’t be taken lightly.
“José Ramírez is a perennial MVP candidate, Josh Naylor is a perennial top of the league slugger. They put up a lot of tough at-bats,” Cole said. “They don’t walk a lot. They put a lot of balls in play. They don’t strike out a lot. They have high contact quality. They put a lot of action. The running game is high. They have three guys over 35 steal attempts, so it’s a lot of action, and it forces you to play a clean brand of baseball, which they’re trying to impart a lot of pressure on.”
Those are the strengths the Guardians will need to get back to if they want to bring the ALCS back to Progressive Field tied 1-1. Going up against an excellent performance from Carlos Rodón in Game 1, the Guardians never generated a sense of momentum.
“I think that’s who we are,” said manager Stephen Vogt. “We have to play baseball. We’re a baseball team. We need to make things happen. Running, bunting, putting the ball in play. We run the bases hard. We don’t assume anything’s over. That’s how we’ve gotten here. We’ve gotten here by putting pressure on the other team, and that’s who we are.”
With these two teams meeting in the postseason for the first time since 2017, the Yankees are chasing their first trip to the World Series since 2009, while the Guardians are after their first since 2016.
When is the game and how can I watch it?
Game 2 of the American League Championship Series will be played at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday at 7:38 p.m. ET. It can be seen on TBS, truTV and Max.
All games are available in the U.S. on MLB.TV (authentication to a participating Pay TV provider is required). Live games are also available in select countries outside the U.S. For full details, click here.
Who are the starting pitchers?
Guardians: Tanner Bibee is ready to take what he’s learned in his first two postseason starts and come out even better in the ALCS. He said the adrenaline was high in Game 1 of the ALDS. His nerves were down in his second start, but his stuff wasn’t as sharp as the first time. So as he said, the third time’s the charm. So far, Bibee has given up two runs in 8 2/3 innings in the playoffs. The only time he’s faced the Yankees was his second career start, when he gave up two runs over 5 1/3 innings in May 2023.
Yankees: Gerrit Cole draws the nod after firing seven strong innings of one-run, six-hit ball in ALDS Game 4 at Kansas City. In nine postseason starts as a Yankee, Cole has gone 5-2 with a 3.38 ERA. He faced Cleveland once this season, on Aug. 22 at Yankee Stadium, when Cole picked up the win with six scoreless innings of one-hit ball.
What are the starting lineups?
Guardians: The Guardians will likely stack their lineup with their lefty hitters to face the right-handed Cole. Here’s how the order could look:
Yankees: Look for the Yankees’ lineup to remain similar to how it appeared in Game 1, with another right-hander on the mound in Bibee. Manager Aaron Boone said that Anthony Rizzo will start at first base again after he was removed in the ninth inning of Game 1, he just felt Rizzo was emotionally and physically spent after eight innings.
How will the bullpens line up after the starter?
Guardians: If there was any silver lining about Cleveland’s loss in Game 1 on Monday, it was the fact that the Big Four got some extra rest. For the first time this postseason, Cade Smith, Tim Herrin, Hunter Gaddis and Emmanuel Clase all remained in the bullpen, as the Guardians played from behind for most of the night. Expect Cleveland’s biggest weapons to be used in Game 2.
Yankees: After New York’s bullpen worked 15 2/3 innings without allowing an earned run in the ALDS, they got more strong work in ALCS Game 1, though Tim Hill was charged with an earned run in the eighth inning. Clay Holmes (1 IP) and Luke Weaver (1 2/3 IP) worked scoreless outings again, though, with Weaver picking up his fourth save of the postseason. Look for Boone to use Weaver again in Game 2, despite throwing 24 pitches to nail down a five-out save.
Any injuries of note?
Guardians: Game 1 starter Alex Cobb is dealing with soreness in his left hip (the same hip that underwent surgery last offseason) and back spasms. The Guardians will continue to monitor him throughout the series to determine if he’ll be able to take the ball again. Infielder/outfielder Tyler Freeman strained his oblique during a workout this week and was removed from the ALDS roster and was left off of the ALCS roster.
Yankees: Left-hander Nestor Cortes (left elbow flexor strain) could face hitters later this week, which would make him a consideration for a potential World Series roster. Infielder DJ LeMahieu (right hip impingement) is also trying to be an option, and Boone noted that he’s been moving better lately.
Who is hot and who is not?
Guardians: Rocchio has become one of Cleveland’s most trusty bats in October. Now with a hit in each of his first six playoff games, he ties a franchise record for the longest hit streak to begin a postseason career with Lonnie Chisenhall (2013-16) and Jhonny Peralta (2007).
Yankees: Stanton’s seventh-inning homer in Game 1 was his second of the postseason and the 13th of his career in postseason play. He’s hitting .368 (7-for-19) this postseason, with five RBIs. Torres has reached base safely in all five of the Yanks’ playoff games this year. Soto is 6-for-17 (.353) with a double, homer, three RBIs and four walks in five playoff games as a Yankee. Judge is 2-for-15 (.133) with six walks and six strikeouts this postseason.
Anything else fans might want to know?
