The Yankees' postseason tour of the American League Central Division continues in the ALCS.
After the Yankees defeated the Royals in the ALDS, they are scheduled to play the division champion Guardians. The two teams met in the ALDS two years ago, with the Yankees winning in five games, and the Yankees also defeated Cleveland in the 2020 and 2017 postseasons. It's hard to predict a different outcome in this best-of-seven game, as Cleveland barely survived. The ALDS against the Tigers and Yankees won four of six games during the regular season.
The Post's Dan Martin looks at how the two teams will match up in Game 1 on Monday in the Bronx.
on the plate
go on base
The Yankees didn't hit much off the ball against Kansas City, but they had a lot of patient and good at-bats, led by Gleyber Torres and Anthony Volpe. However, Volpe didn't have much of a noticeable performance in hard contact. Although Juan Soto wasn't as strong as he was during the regular season, he was also good at drawing walks. Stephen Kwan couldn't get an out against Detroit in the ALDS, and Brayan Rocchio also lit up the lineup. Jose Ramirez has crushed the Yankees' pitching in his last two postseason encounters and has had tremendous success with Gerrit Cole, but he has gone just 3-for-23 in six games against the Yankees this season.
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Aaron Judge had a great regular season that made him forget about his playoff problems. Judge had only two hits in 13 at-bats, a double, an infield single, and five walks. Will his postseason drought (.615 OPS in 32 playoff games since leaving Fenway Park with a roar of “New York, New York” in 2018) continue? Soto walked a few times but didn't do much in the ALDS. It's hard to imagine that being the case against Cleveland — especially with Alex Cobb on the mound (7-for-11 career, one double and two home runs).
Giancarlo Stanton continued his usual October outburst with a double and the biggest home run of the ALDS. The Yankees led baseball in the regular season with 237 home runs, while the Guardians were in the middle with 185 home runs. Still, like David Frye, Lane Thomas tormented Detroit in the ALDS, but in the regular season, Ramirez led the offense and Josh Naylor led the offense. His younger brother Bo, a catcher, hit 31 home runs and angered the Yankees two seasons ago by making a baby-rocking motion with both arms after hitting a home run off Cole. Ramirez also hits the call well.
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in the field
infield
Second baseman Andres Jimenez and shortstop Rocchio make up Cleveland's excellent middle infield, while Ramirez will play third base. Volpe had another strong season at shortstop, but Torres was once again below average at second. Jazz Chisholm Jr., who replaced the injured Anthony Rizzo, and the duo of Jon Barty and Oswaldo Cabrera performed better than expected against the Royals.
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outfield
Judge and Soto's outfield coordination is a little weak, but if they can hit like they did in the regular season, there will be no problem. And although there were concerns that Jason Dominguez might struggle in left field, Alex Verdugo played all innings against Kansas City, and Aaron Boone indicated he intended to play again against Cleveland. Kwan is good on the left, but the combination of Thomas and Will Brennan and Johnkensie Noel is nothing special on the right.
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on base path
Ramirez and Jimenez combined for 71 stolen bases during the regular season, and Stanton — yes, Stanton — tied for the team lead with one against the Royals.
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bench
The Yankees initially largely ignored their bench in the ALDS, with Dominguez, Ben Rice, and Jose Trevino not on the field other than Cabrera and Berti splitting time. Cleveland has used its bench more this postseason, but without much success. Left-handed DH Kyle Manzardo could be used against right-handed pitchers.
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on the mound
rotate
On Saturday, Boone did not name the starting pitcher for Game 1, but this speaks to the team's faith in Carlos Rodon, who had a strong start in Game 2 of the ALDS but faltered in Game 2. There is. He hasn't played against Cleveland this season and has little experience facing batters. However, Cole is scheduled to play in Game 2, with quality starters Clark Schmidt and Lewis Gil also available (Gill did not play in the ALDS), and the Yankees will have Matthew Boyd, Tanner Bibby, Alex – Cobb, no starter in the ALDS pitched a complete five innings.
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bull-pen
In the ALDS, Clay Holmes, Tommy Kahnle, and Luke Weaver had a dominant performance in the Yankees' bullpen, posting 15 sq/₃ 2/3 shutout innings against the Royals. Marcus Stroman and Mark Leiter Jr. could join the roster this round. As good as the Yankees were against the Royals, Cleveland's pen was great all year, with closer Emmanuel Clase having his best performance in regular season history. He played like a man in the ALDS vs. Detroit, allowing four runs in five innings, but pitched two perfect innings in Saturday's Game 5 to close out the series. Cade Smith, Hunter Gaddis, Eli Morgan and left-hander Tim Herrin all had great seasons.
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manager
Former catcher Steven Voigt replaced Terry Francona this season, and the Guardians showed no signs of slowing down, advancing to the postseason for the sixth time in nine years. However, he has not been tested by any team outside the AL Central Division during the playoffs. Boone made the most of his bullpen and first baseman in the ALDS.
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something intangible
The Yankees have dominated the Guardians in terms of salary, and after winning four straight against Kansas City, they have had enough rest and are pitching as they want, but Vogt is requiring the entire pitching staff to be extremely creative in order to pitch at the last minute. It was necessary to make it work. Lasts longer than the Tigers. Additionally, the Yankees have dominated Cleveland in the playoffs for more than a decade.
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