Ny Yankees vs Cleveland Guardians Picks and Predictions October 15th 2024

Already Down in ALCS, Guardians Set to Face Yanks Ace Gerrit Cole

The New York Yankees got off to a strong start in the American League Championship Series (ALCS) with a 5-2 victory over the Cleveland Guardians in Game 1 on Monday. Behind Carlos Rodón’s impressive outing and home runs from sluggers Juan Soto and Giancarlo Stanton, the Yankees took a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven series. Now, the Yankees are looking to extend their advantage as ace Gerrit Cole takes the mound for Game 2 on Tuesday.

The Yankees are aiming for their first 2-0 lead in the ALCS since 2009, a year that culminated in their most recent World Series title. However, New York has struggled in Game 2s of the ALCS in recent years, losing five straight times in this situation since 2010. Despite this, the Yankees are confident heading into Game 2 with Cole, their top pitcher, ready to take the ball.

Yankees Seek to Build on Game 1 Momentum

In Monday’s Game 1 victory, Carlos Rodón delivered a stellar performance, allowing just one run over six innings while striking out nine without issuing a walk. It was a marked improvement from his AL Division Series (ALDS) loss to the Kansas City Royals, and his dominant outing set the tone for the Yankees.

Offensively, Juan Soto hit his first postseason home run as a Yankee, reaching base three times, while Giancarlo Stanton continued his postseason hot streak with another home run. Stanton is now 7-for-19 (.368) in the playoffs, leading New York’s lineup.

Manager Aaron Boone praised his team’s approach at the plate, saying, “I thought we had a lot of good at-bats. We had traffic,” as the Yankees recorded six hits, drew seven walks, and capitalized on wild pitches to score twice.

First baseman Anthony Rizzo highlighted the team’s chemistry, stating, “This team trusts each other a lot. No one needs to be the guy. There’s a lot of guys here who have done special things in this game. We just pass it on to the next guy.”

Guardians Look to Bounce Back

Despite the loss, Cleveland manager Stephen Vogt remained optimistic about his team’s resilience. The Guardians struck out 14 times but managed to get the tying run to the plate multiple times late in the game, including during a one-run eighth inning that brought them within 5-2.

“Tonight, where it felt like we were out of it, we got the tying run to the plate multiple times,” Vogt said. “This team doesn’t quit, and that’s what I love the most about them. I know we’re going to come back out tomorrow ready to go and fight like we do.”

Steven Kwan extended his postseason hitting streak to 11 games, continuing his impressive form by hitting .480 (12-for-25) in the playoffs. However, Cleveland will need more production from the rest of their lineup if they hope to even the series against Cole.

Pitching Matchup: Gerrit Cole vs. Tanner Bibee

Gerrit Cole (1-0, 3.00 ERA) will make his third start of the postseason after two outings in the ALDS against Kansas City. Cole allowed four runs (three earned) in five-plus innings in Game 1 but rebounded in Game 4, allowing just one run over seven innings to help the Yankees close out the Royals.

Cole has been outstanding against Cleveland in his postseason career, boasting a 4-0 record with a 1.98 ERA and 41 strikeouts in 27 1/3 innings over four playoff starts. His ability to limit walks and generate strikeouts has been key, as Cole noted: “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.”

The Guardians will counter with Tanner Bibee (0-0, 2.08 ERA), who will make his third career postseason start after two solid outings in the ALDS. Bibee took no-decisions in both starts but allowed only six hits and two runs across 8 2/3 innings in the series. In his lone regular-season start against the Yankees, Bibee allowed two runs in 5 1/3 innings during a no-decision in New York on May 2.

Bibee will need to keep the Yankees’ power hitters in check, having already allowed a home run to Anthony Volpe earlier in the season. Cleveland will rely on Bibee to deliver another strong outing, especially with their backs against the wall.

Key Matchups and What to Watch

1. Gerrit Cole vs. Guardians’ Contact Hitters

Cleveland’s lineup is known for its high contact rate and ability to put balls in play, which contrasts with Cole’s strikeout-heavy approach. How well Cole manages hitters like Steven Kwan, who rarely strikes out, will be crucial to the Yankees’ chances of taking a 2-0 lead.

2. Yankees’ Power vs. Tanner Bibee

New York’s ability to hit for power has been a major factor this postseason, with Juan Soto and Giancarlo Stanton leading the way. Bibee will need to avoid the long ball and keep the Yankees’ sluggers in the ballpark to give Cleveland a chance.

3. Guardians’ Offense

While Steven Kwan has been excellent, Cleveland will need more contributions from hitters like José Ramírez and Josh Naylor, who have struggled in key moments. Facing Cole, the Guardians must capitalize on any scoring opportunities to stay competitive.

Game 2 Outlook

The Yankees are in prime position to take a commanding 2-0 lead behind Gerrit Cole, who has been dominant against Cleveland in the postseason. New York’s offense, led by Soto, Stanton, and a deep lineup, will look to continue generating traffic on the bases and putting pressure on Bibee.

For Cleveland, Bibee will need to pitch deep into the game and keep the Yankees’ hitters off-balance to give his team a chance. The Guardians’ ability to put together tough at-bats against Cole will be key, but they’ll also need to avoid the strikeouts that plagued them in Game 1.

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Prediction

Given Cole’s postseason pedigree and success against Cleveland, combined with the Yankees’ offensive firepower, New York appears poised to take a 2-0 series lead. If Bibee can limit the damage, the Guardians have a chance, but the Yankees hold the edge.

Yankees 5, Guardians 2