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NEW YORK — Advantage, Yankees. Fresh off taking the first two games of the ALCS at home from the Guardians, this series is off to Cleveland with the Yankees in full control.
Two wins stand between the Yankees and their first World Series appearance since 2009, a drought too long for an organization that’s won 27 of them, but they know the Guardians are a better team than what we’ve seen through the first two games.
“Guys are excited, but we still know there’s a lot of work to be done,” said Aaron Judge, who launched his first home run of this postseason in the Yankees’ 6-3 win Tuesday. “We’re playing against a good Cleveland team that has battled all year, had some tough games, went through a tough series with Detroit taking it to Game 5 and came out on the other side. So a lot of work to be done. So we’re excited. The guys in there are focused. They’re prepared. They know what needs to be done, and on our way to Cleveland.”
Tuesday night’s loss in Game 2 felt like one the Guardians could flip in their favor when the Yankees let them hang around through the middle innings, but Cleveland left the bases loaded in back-to-back innings. The Guardians aren’t about to out-slug the Yankees, who led baseball with 237 home runs this season, but they need to find that big hit at the right moment.
Guardians manager Stephen Vogt doesn’t see any need for grand change, though. He just wants to see the same club that won 92 games this season.
“Be us. Keep doing what we’re doing,” Vogt said. “We had traffic all night tonight. We do what we do. We get on base and make things happen. We just didn’t get a big hit with runners in scoring position tonight. We’re one swing of the bat away from taking the lead in that game. We’re one swing of the bat from being right back in it. That is who we are. We don’t quit. We just need to keep being us.”
This will be a steep hill for the Guardians to climb, but their first goal is to get the ALCS back to New York.
When is the game and how can I watch it?
Game 3 of the American League Championship Series will be played at Progressive Field in Cleveland on Thursday at 5:08 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?
Yankees: Clarke Schmidt will make his second start of this postseason after tossing 4 2/3 innings of two-run ball in a no-decision during Game 3 of the ALDS at Kansas City. Schmidt’s first two playoff appearances came against Cleveland in the 2022 ALDS, when he pitched a scoreless inning in Game 2, but was charged with a blown save and a loss in Game 3. He picked up a win against Cleveland on April 13 of this season, allowing two runs (one earned) over five innings.
Guardians: Cleveland hasn’t announced a starter for Game 3, but all signs seem to be pointing to Matthew Boyd, considering the Guardians’ No. 2 starter for the ALDS would be on regular rest to get the ball again on Thursday. The lefty has made six career starts against the Yankees, owning a 5.17 ERA with seven homers, 16 walks and 29 strikeouts in 31 1/3 innings. In the winner-take-all Game 5 start against the Tigers in the ALDS, Boyd allowed just one hit in two frames. Prior to that, he had given up just four hits in 4 2/3 scoreless frames in Game 2. Can he keep his scoreless streak alive when the Guardians need starting pitching the most?
What are the starting lineups?
Yankees: One thought for the off-day between Games 2 and 3 could concern the cleanup spot in New York’s order, where catcher Austin Wells has been limited to two hits in 24 postseason at-bats. Anthony Rizzo has provided more offense than expected since returning from a couple of fractured fingers on his right hand; manager Aaron Boone could consider swapping those two lefties in his lineup.
Guardians: With another righty on the mound for the Yankees, the Guardians may have a similar lineup as Game 2.
How will the bullpens line up after the starter?
Yankees: Wednesday’s off-day provides some valuable rest for the bullpen, especially Clay Holmes and Luke Weaver, each of whom have appeared in the club’s first six postseason games. There is a discussion to be had that Boone might want to ease off on Holmes and Weaver (an appearance in Game 3 would mean three outings in four days, with Game 4 and potentially Game 5 to follow), but it’s the playoffs, so expect the Yankees to try to win Game 3 and worry about the next day later.
Guardians: Cleveland can be thankful for Wednesday’s off-day after having to run seven relievers to the mound in Game 2 following Tanner Bibee’s quick exit. This bullpen has been the backbone of the Guardians’ roster all season long, and it has to stay that way if this team is going to advance to the World Series. However, for everything to go perfectly, the Guardians will need their starters to eat up more innings than they did in their last three games, so that the Big Four can do all the heavy lifting in relief. If Cade Smith, Tim Herrin, Hunter Gaddis and Emmanuel Clase are the only ones getting the ball, the chances of New York scoring in the late innings decrease.
Any injuries of note?
Yankees: Left-hander Nestor Cortes (left elbow flexor strain) is expected to 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. Neither was close to being included on the ALCS roster.
Guardians: Game 1 starter Alex Cobb was diagnosed with a lower back strain, which prompted him to be removed from the ALCS roster on Tuesday. He was replaced with Ben Lively. 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.
Who is hot and who is not?
Yankees: Soto’s reputation as an on-base machine has carried over into the playoffs, where he is 7-for-20 (.350) with two runs scored, a double, homer, three RBIs and five walks. Volpe has been hitting the ball well, better than his numbers (5-for-18, .278) might indicate at first glance. Stanton had a quiet ALCS Game 2, but he has been an October monster (7-for-23, .304, 2 HR). Chisholm is 3-for-23 (.130) in the playoffs.
Guardians: No matter how much this offense is struggling to get the timely hit, it hasn’t lost its spark plug in Steven Kwan at the top of the order. Kwan extended his postseason hitting streak to 12 games, dating back to Game 1 of the 2022 ALDS, which is the longest such streak in Cleveland history. The longest playoff hitting streak by an American League player was Michael Brantley in 2020-21 (16 games). In seven games this postseason, Kwan is hitting .488.
Anything else fans might want to know?
