2024 American League Championship Series

Games Four and Five @ Progressive Field - Cleveland, OH

The Guardians avoided going down three games to none thanks to the heroics of Jhonkensy Noel and David Fry, who respectively hit game-tying and walk-off home runs off of the Yankees relief aces. There’s a ton of excitement in the Land, but there are some ominous signs for Steven Vogt’s ball club. The starting pitching has not given length nor has it been very effective so far, and Cleveland will call upon the unproven Gavin Williams (3-10 4.86 ERA 76 IP) in game four and bring back Tanner Bibee (12-8 3.47 173 IP) on short rest for game five. More worrisome is the fact that the Yankees have been able to do damage against Emmanuel Clase, who is regarded as the best closer in the game. And with stalwarts Cade Smith and Hunter Gaddis having been used heavily to boot, the strategy of reliever carousel might not be so sound. If the Guardians are going to pull this off, they will have to bring the bats as they did in game three. That means much better production from José Ramírez and Josh Naylor, as well as frankly any production from the catching tandem of Bo Naylor and Austin Hedges. We know the Guardians will not go down without a fight, but do they have enough to contend with the Yankees onslaught.

Game three was a whirlwind finish for Aaron Boone’s squad, coming back in the eighth with back-to-back homers, but then unable to get the final out despite just being a strike away from a likely insurmountable 3-0 lead. Still, the Yankees are in good position in this series, and they will look to press their advantage as they seek their 41st AL pennant. They send rookie Luis Gil (15-7 3.50 ERA 150 IP) to the mound in game four, who was incredible to start the year, but seemed to hit a wall in the second half. Then for game five, Carlos Rodón (16-9 3.96 ERA 175 IP) will get the ball again, looking to replicate his outstanding game one start. The bullpen has shown its first cracks the postseason, with Clay Holmes and Luke Weaver coughing up the lead in game three. This is no worry with the offense, however, as Giancarlo Stanton continues to just hit home runs nearly every game, Gleyber Torres and Juan Soto get on base in about half of their at bats, and Aaron Judge has finally shown some life. They are a dangerous lineup, and if the Guardians continue to gift them opportunities with runners in scoring position, the Yankees will make you pay. Tune in to a competitive finish to this exciting ALCS.

Audio clips from MLB.tv

TBS Broadcast - Brian Anderson, Ron Darling, and Jeff Francoeur

CLE Radio WTAM - Tom Hamilton and Jim Rosenhaus

NYY Radio WFAN - John Sterling and Suzyn Waldman

As always, shout to Baseball Reference and SABR for statistics, boxscores, background research, and much, much more.

Catch you next time,

P.C.O.