Guardians vs Yankees: Starting pitchers and lineups for AL Championship Series Game 2

With the Yankees leading the series after a solid 5-2 win in Game 1, the Guardians are now staring down a must-win situation in Game 2 of the ALCS. New York’s lineup, with its ability to draw walks and capitalize on mistakes, controlled the narrative in the first game, leaving Cleveland scrambling. The Guardians struck out 14 times while walking only once, a formula that just doesn’t work against a team like the Yankees, whose power and patience are real threats.

Gerrit Cole, who gets the start for the Yankees in Game 2, knows this Cleveland lineup is no pushover, though. “José Ramírez is a perennial MVP candidate, Josh Naylor is a perennial top of the league slugger,” Cole says. He‘s quick to point out the Guardians’ scrappy nature. They’re not known for drawing walks, but they put the ball in play, force action, and have a dangerous running Game that makes opposing pitchers and defenses uncomfortable.

Cleveland will need to find a way to shift back to their strengths - contact hitting, aggressive base running, and putting pressure on the other team. “We have to play baseball,” says Guardians manager Stephen Vogt. “Running, bunting, putting the ball in play. We run the bases hard. We don’t assume anything’s over. That’s how we’ve gotten here.”

The Yankees, meanwhile, have their sights set on a return to the World Series for the first time since 2009. For the Guardians, it’s been since 2016. The stakes are high, and both teams know they can’t afford to let momentum slip.

Starting Pitchers

Guardians

Tanner Bibee is taking the mound for Cleveland. The rookie right-hander has looked sharp in his first two postseason starts, giving up just two runs over 8.2 innings. Bibee faced the Yankees once earlier this season in May, allowing two runs over 5.1 innings. His key will be maintaining coMMAnd under the bright lights of Yankee Stadium, which is no easy task for any pitcher, let alone a young one in the playoffs.

Yankees

Gerrit Cole takes the ball after a dominant ALDS performance, where he fired seven innings of one-run ball. Cole is no stranger to postseason pressure, and in nine playoff starts as a Yankee, he’s gone 5-2 with a 3.38 ERA. He’s already handled Cleveland once this year, throwing six scoreless innings against them in August.

Starting Lineups

Guardians

Cleveland is stacking its lineup with lefties to counter Cole’s dominance against right-handed batters.

Yankees

No changes for New York in Game 2. Anthony Rizzo is back at first after being pulled in the ninth inning of Game 1, simply needing some rest after a long night.

Bullpen Outlook

Guardians

If there’s any upside to Cleveland’s Game 1 loss, it’s that their main relievers - Cade Smith, Tim Herrin, Hunter Gaddis, and Emmanuel Clase - got the night off. They’ll be fresh for Game 2, which should give the Guardians an edge in the later innings.

Yankees

New York’s bullpen has been a rock this postseason. Luke Weaver has been particularly effective, already nailing down four saves. Though he threw 24 pitches in Game 1, manager Aaron Boone may still call on him again if needed.

Key Injuries

Guardians

Alex Cobb was scratched from the ALCS roster with a back strain, meaning he won’t be eligible for the World Series if Cleveland advances. Tyler Freeman is also out with an oblique strain.

Yankees

Nestor Cortes could return later in the postseason as he works his way back from an elbow issue. DJ LeMahieu is also rehabbing a hip injury but could be an option soon if he continues improving.

Hot Bats

Guardians: Brayan Rocchio has emerged as one of Cleveland’s most reliable hitters this postseason, with a six-game hit streak that ties a franchise record for the start of a playoff career. Steven Kwan, meanwhile, is hitting a blistering .480, with an 11-game postseason hit streak.

Yankees: Giancarlo Stanton homered in Game 1, his second of the postseason, and he’s batting .368 with five RBIs this October. Juan Soto has been a steady force, too, batting .353 with a home run and three RBIs across five games. Aaron Judge has struggled at the plate, going just 2-for-15, though he’s drawn six walks.

What to Watch

Steven Kwan‘s continued hot streak is something to keep an eye on. His 11-game playoff hit streak is now a Cleveland record, surpassing Kenny Lofton. Meanwhile, Stanton’s postseason power is always a threat, and Cole’s ability to handle the Guardians’ small-ball approach could set the tone early.