CLEVELAND — So far, it really is an October to remember.
The Cleveland Guardians are headed to the Bronx to play for a pennant. After beating the Detroit Tigers in five games, Cleveland is turning its attention to the American League Championship Series (ALCS) against the New York Yankees.
The best-of-seven ALCS will kick off at Yankee Stadium with Game 1 set for Monday night.
What follows is everything you need to know about the Guardians' Game 1 matchup with the Yankees:
GAME INFO, HOW TO WATCH ON TV, STREAM, BETTING LINE
- Time: 7:38 p.m.
- Location: Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY
- TV channel: TBS/TruTV
- Streaming: Max
- Radio: WTAM 1100, WMMS 100.7, Guardians Radio Network, ESPN Radio, WARF 1350
- Moneyline: Guardians +136 / Yankees -162
- Run line: -1.5
- Total: 7.5
- Tickets can be purchased HERE
PROBABLE PITCHERS
- Cleveland Guardians: RHP Alex Cobb (Postseason: 0-1, 6.00 ERA, 2 Ks)
- New York Yankees: LHP Carlos Rodon (0-1, 9.82 ERA, 7 Ks)
ALCS SCHEDULE
- Monday, Oct. 14: Game 1 in New York, 7:38 p.m.
- Tuesday, Oct. 15: Game 2 in New York, 7:38 p.m.
- Thursday, Oct. 17: Game 3, in Cleveland, 5:08 p.m.
- Friday, Oct. 18: Game 4, in Cleveland, 8:08 p.m.
- Saturday, Oct. 19: Game 5 (if necessary), in Cleveland, 8:08 p.m.
- Monday, Oct. 21: Game 6 (if necessary), in New York, 5:08 p.m.
- Tuesday, Oct. 22: Game 7 (if necessary), in New York, 7:38 p.m.
PREVIEW
The Guardians are carrying plenty of momentum into Game 1 after exorcising their do-or-die demons and winning back-to-back elimination games against the Detroit Tigers. Before the ALDS, Cleveland's record while facing elimination in the postseason dating back to Game 7 of the 1997 World Series was a dismal 0-11. Now, it's 2-11.
They'll need to keep the momentum on their side as they run up against the team with the American League's best record this season. The Yankees topped the AL East with a 94-68 regular season and marched through their ALDS against the Kansas City Royals in four games.
Despite their fearsome reputation, the high-payroll Yankees have shown some offensive weaknesses Cleveland could exploit in the series, should the trends continue. Most notably, slugger Aaron Judge — who had one of baseball's hottest bats in the regular season with 58 home runs and 144 runs batted in — struggled to match that torrid form in the ALDS. Judge went 2-for-13, failed to drive in a run and scored just twice on the Royals. Are his ALDS foibles a sign of what's to come, or is Judge simply due?
The answer to that question may lie with the Guardians' lauded bullpen, which had some uncharacteristic difficulties in the Tigers series aside from the ever-reliable Cade Smith. Even closer and Cy Young candidate Emmanuel Clase has looked human, giving up a game-winning home run in Game 2 and allowing a run during his five-out save in Game 4.
Lately, it's the Yankees who have gotten the most out of their closer; Luke Weaver proves to be a tough assignment for Cleveland's hitters. He earned saves in Games 1, 3 and 4 vs. the Royals, hasn't allowed an earned run in 12 appearances since becoming New York's closer last month. Weaver hasn't been the only Yanks pitcher who's excelled. Gerrit Cole had a great Game 4 against Kansas City, holding the Royals to a single run over seven innings. Clay Holmes tossed a perfect eighth inning in that game. As a whole, the Yankees' pitching staff has not allowed a score in 15 2/3 innings.
Offensively for Cleveland, Steven Kwan, David Fry and Brayan Rocchio led the way in the ALDS. Josh Naylor is no stranger to clutch postseason hits off the Yankees. But the biggest threat facing New York remains José Ramírez. The Guardians slugger posted three RBIs and one home run against the Tigers. Ramírez was lights-out during the regular season, batting in 118 total runs, stealing 41 bases and slugging 39 home runs.
Yankees skipper Aaron Boone acknowledged the challenges Ramírez poses, heaping praise on the Guardians talisman in his Sunday press conference.
"If I hear another, how underappreciated, underrated he is from somebody on a network or something, I want to rip my arms off and throw it at the TV," Boone said. "He's not underappreciated, he's not underrated. He's a great, on a Hall of Fame track player, and everybody knows it."
Lefty Carlos Rodón, will start Game 1 on the mound for New York. He took the loss in Game 2 against Kansas City last Monday. The Guardians will counter with veteran righty Alex Cobb, who gave up two runs in only three innings in a Game 3 defeat to Detroit.
WHAT'S NEXT?
The Guardians/Yankees series winner will take on the winner of the National League Championship Series between the New York Mets and Los Angeles Dodgers. The best-of-seven NLCS begins Sunday night, with LA hosting Game 1.