Guardians vs Yankees: Starting pitchers and lineups for AL Championship Series Game1

The October air turns crisp in New York, as all eyes turn to the Bronx and the Guardians and Yankees square off in Game 1 of the American League Championship Series. Yankee manager Aaron Boone sums it up best: “We’re now in the round playing for a chance to win a pennant and go to the World Series. It’s going to be an awesome atmosphere.”

The stage is set. For the fourth time since 2017, these two teams meet again in the postseason, though this time, there’s even more on the line. The Guardians come into this series riding high after an emotional Game 5 victory over the Tigers in the Division Series. But the celebration is already in the rearview mirror. Guardians manager Stephen Vogt knows they’ve got a different beast ahead of them: “We’re playing a very, very good Yankee team. We’ve seen them in the regular season. This is one of the most talented teams in the league. So we know we have our work cut out for us.”

The Pitching Matchup

For Cleveland, veteran right-hander Alex Cobb takes the mound tonight. Cobb’s been working his way back from injury, and although he looked a little rusty in Game 3 of the ALDS against Detroit, there’s no doubting his experience. He’ll be facing a Yankees lineup packed with power, so keeping the ball on the ground and the crowd at bay will be key. Cobb says as much himself: “Top to bottom, they’re experienced hitters... trying to keep the ball on the ground is big here. Trying to keep the crowd out of it is going to be big.”

The Yankees counter with Carlos Rodón, who will be pitching on extra rest after his outing in ALDS Game 2 against Kansas City. Rodón struggled a bit in that start, giving up four runs over just 3.2 innings, but he’s been stellar at home this season. “I peaked too early last time,” he admits, vowing to maintain better control of his emotions under the postseason lights this time around.

Starting Lineups

Guardians:

Yankees:

Bullpen Battle

The Guardians boast one of the best bullpens in recent memory, finishing the season with a historically low ERA. Expect them to lean heavily on Cade Smith, even though he’s already been worked hard in the playoffs. From there, Cleveland will ride the arms of Tim Herrin, Hunter Gaddis, and Emmanuel Clase, with a couple of rookies, Andrew Walters and Erik Sabrowski, ready to jump in when needed.

On the Yankees’ side, their bullpen has been nothing short of dominant through the ALDS, logging 15.2 innings without an earned run. Luke Weaver’s been a shutdown closer, and Clay Holmes has been lights out in middle relief. The Yankees are also toying with adding Marcus Stroman for length, giving them even more options.

Injuries and X-Factors

The Guardians will be without Tyler Freeman, who strained his oblique during a workout, so they’ll need to rely on their depth. The Yankees are dealing with a few key injuries as well, though there’s a chance we could see Anthony Rizzo (fractured fingers) or DJ LeMahieu (hip impingement) back in the fold soon.

On the field, Cleveland’s Lane Thomas is fresh off a Game 5 grand slam, and Steven Kwan is red hot, looking to extend his streak of three-hit postseason Games to four. Meanwhile, Giancarlo Stanton’s been the Yankees’ most consistent bat, and Juan Soto’s patient approach has helped set the tone in the lineup. But Aaron Judge, still quiet by his standards, is looking to turn things around. He’s struggled mightily since last postseason, hitting just .143 in his last 13 playoff Games. If the Yankees are going to make a push for the pennant, they’ll need their captain to get back to his regular-season form.

These two teams know each other well, and the familiarity brings both tension and excitement. Cleveland and New York split their regular season matchups, but the stakes are infinitely higher now. Boone expects Yankee Stadium to be “rocking,” and the Guardians are ready to embrace the challenge. With the World Series looming, the battle starts tonight under the lights of the Bronx.