Yankees, Guardians ready to battle for first time since ALCS

The Cleveland Guardians and New York Yankees competed in a tight five-game American League Championship Series about six months ago, and both teams are off to decent starts to create a possibility of postseason trips.

For the first time since Juan Soto hit a tiebreaking three-run homer in the 10th inning of Game 5 of the ALCS, the Yankees head to Cleveland for the start of a three-game series.

The Yankees have started their first AL pennant defense since 2009 by winning 14 of their first 22 games and are on their best run of the early weeks. After dropping five of seven on April 6-13, the Yankees are 6-1 in their past seven games.

New York is off to a strong start with outfielder Soto playing across town for the Mets, fellow slugger Giancarlo Stanton out indefinitely with elbow injuries and ace pitcher Gerrit Cole out for the season following Tommy John surgery on his elbow.

Without Cole, the Yankees’ rotation owns a 4.50 ERA this season, but in the past seven games, New York’s starters are pitching to a 2.70 ERA. On Sunday, Max Fried allowed two hits in 7 2/3 innings of a 4-0 win over the host Tampa Bay Rays at Steinbrenner Field, where the Yankees won three of four in their spring training home ballpark.

Fried allowed an infield single that was originally ruled an error by first baseman Paul Goldschmidt and gave up another hit in the eighth shortly after the initial scoring call was changed.

Cody Bellinger, Trent Grisham and Austin Wells homered for the Yankee while Aaron Judge reached base for the 18th straight game, though he had a homer ruled to be a foul ball.

“We’re playing really good as a team right now,” Bellinger said. “It’s fun to be a part of.”

Cleveland went 3-6 on a season-opening nine-game road trip against the Kansas City Royals, San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Angels but is 9-3 over its past 12 contests. Seven of those wins are by three runs or less, including a 5-4 win against the Pittsburgh Pirates in the finale of a six-game road trip on Sunday.

Kyle Manzardo hit a two-run homer and added the tiebreaking sacrifice fly in the 10th after closer Emmanuel Clase allowed three runs in the ninth. Steven Kwan also hit a two-run homer as the Guardians homered for the 19th time in their past 15 games.

“We have been playing good ball,” Cleveland starter Logan Allen said. “We’re happy to get out of here with a sweep, and we’re excited to go back home and keep it rolling.”

Cleveland’s rotation holds a 2.77 ERA in its past 12 games and Gavin Williams (1-1, 4.58 ERA) opens the series with the Yankees.

Williams earned his first win this season when he held the White Sox to one run in five innings on April 10. However, on Wednesday he was tagged for five runs in 6 2/3 innings of a 9-1 loss at Baltimore.

Williams allowed three runs in 4 1/3 innings during his only previous start against the Yankees, a 6-0 loss on Aug. 22, 2024, in New York. He also allowed three runs in 2 1/3 innings when the right-hander started Game 4 of the ALCS, which New York won 8-6 though Williams got a no-decision.

Clarke Schmidt (0-0, 4.76) will make his second start after opening the season on the injured list with a shoulder injury. Schmidt allowed three runs on four hits in 5 2/3 innings and took a no-decision Wednesday against the Royals.

The right-hander is 1-0 with a 3.52 ERA in four career appearances (three starts) against Cleveland. He also has an 0-1 record in three postseason appearances (one start) against the Guardians, including a start in Game 3 of last season’s ALCS when he allowed two runs on five hits in 4 2/3 innings of a no-decision.

–Field Level Media