NFL
By Billy Lewis:
The 2024 ALCS is set to get underway tonight in the Bronx when the New York Yankees host the Cleveland Guardians! It will be their fourth playoff meeting since 2017, and seventh overall meeting in October. The Yankees are 4-2 in these series winning the 1998 ALCS, 2017 ALDS, 2020 Wild Card series, and 2022 ALDS. Cleveland was victorious in the 1997 ALDS and 2007 ALDS. The Yankees are looking for their first AL pennant since 2009 and the Guardians for their first since 2016.
The Yankees were carried by their pitching staff en route to beating the Kansas City Royals in four games in the ALDS. Cleveland staved off a scorching Detroit Tigers team, getting the best of AL Cy Young frontrunner Tarik Skrubal in Game 5.
In Game One, Carlos Rodon will face Alex Cobb. Rodon was great in his Game Two start against Kansas City—until he wasn’t. Rodon was strong for three innings, he had five strikeouts while giving up three hits, but no runs. In the fourth inning, it came crashing down for Rodon. He gave up a leadoff home run to Salvador Perez and was not able to recover from there.
By the end of his outing, he was only able to get two outs in the fourth, allowing four runs in the process. Game Two was the only loss for the Yankees in their series against the Royals. Rodon will look to bounce back and get the Yankees started on the right foot in the ALCS.
Cobb also took a loss in his ALDS start. He started Game Three against the Tigers and went three innings, but only allowed two runs.
New York Yankees Pitching Rotation
After using just three starters in the ALDS, the Yankees are moving to a four-man rotation in the ALCS. After Rodon in Game One, Gerrit Cole will start Game Two, Clarke Schmidt in Game Three, and Luis Gil will get the ball for Game Four.
The Yankees bullpen was dominant against Kansas City. They didn’t allow a run in the ALDS and Luke Weaver has handled the closer role exceptionally well.
The Bronx Bombers have to look to live up to their nickname in the ALCS. Giancarlo Stanton was the main offensive force against Kansas City, including hitting a huge 8th-inning game-winning home run in Game Three.
Hopefully, the ALCS sees Aaron Judge get rolling and hitting like the MVP he is. It would behoove the Yankees to get the offense rolling and help out the pitching staff.
The Yankees will need to try to keep Jose Ramirez quiet. The Guardians MVP-caliber third baseman has been a Yankee killer throughout his career.
Prediction:
Aaron Judge’s at-bats were getting better as the ALDS went on. I look for him to have a huge series with the Yankees winning 4-2 and Judge going home with the ALCS MVP.
