New York

Yankees

Torres continues to stay hot in these playoffs. He’s hitting .292 with a .933 OPS and three RBI in six games so far. The Yankees jumped on Tanner Bibee early in Game 2 and Torres’ leadoff double was a big part of the first inning rally. Torres, who is set to hit free agency for the first time this offseason, is certainly playing his best in what could be his last games with the Yankees.

Judge’s home run was his first in the playoffs this year and 14th of his postseason career. He blasted a two-run shot to centerfield off Hunter Gaddis in the seventh inning. Judge only has three hits in six games in the playoffs so far and the Yankees are two wins away from going to the World Series. The obvious advice to Yankees opponents for the rest of the month is don’t let Judge get hot.

Cole gave up six hits, walked four and struck out four. He got into two big jams and was able to get out of one of them on his own. In the fourth inning, the Guardians had the bases loaded with one out before Cole got David Fry to pop out and struck out Bryan Rocchio. In the fifth inning, Cleveland loaded the bases with no outs. After a Josh Naylor sacrifice fly made the score 3-1, Cole walked Lane Thomas and then was removed from the game. With the way the Yankees bullpen has pitched so far in the playoffs, it was an easy call. Cole could end up making another start in the series, but ideally the Yankees would wrap it up before he’s needed, which would make him available for World Series Game 1.

Rizzo played for the first time in weeks in Game 1 of the ALCS for the Yankees in their victory, and the 35-year-old was able to reach twice. There’s a chance that the veteran won’t be out there against southpaws, but with right-hander Tanner Bibee on the bump, Rizzo will hope to help the Yankees take a 2-0 lead in the series. The full lineup: 2B Gleyber Torres, RF Juan Soto, CF Aaron Judge, C Austin Wells, DH Giancarlo Stanton, 3B Jazz Chisholm Jr., SS Anthony Volpe, 1B Rizzo and LF Alex Verdugo.

This was maybe Rodón’s best outing as a Yankee, as he finished with zero walks, nine strikeouts and whopping 25 missed swings. The lone run against him came on a homer from Brayan Rocchio in the sixth, and both other hits he surrendered were singles. After wearing down quickly in his lone start against the Royals, he paced himself nicely tonight, and he picked up his first career postseason victory in his third try. Game 2 of the ALCS will come Tuesday, with Tanner Bibee and Gerrit Cole slated to start.

Soto’s homer was a missile off Alex Cobb, a pitcher he’d also dominated in limited regular-season action the last few years. It was his first homer of this postseason and seventh in 34 games dating back to his time as a 20-year-old sophomore in 2019.

Rizzo is just two weeks removed from fracturing two fingers. He missed the entire ALDS against the Royals but is not only back on the active roster but in the starting lineup for the Yankees. That will push both Jon Berti and Oswaldo Cabrera back to bench roles.

The Yankees only went with 11 pitchers for the ALDS, but they will add Stroman back as another starting pitcher option for a best-of-seven series. Outfielder Duke Ellis will be left off the roster to make room for Stroman.

Rizzo was held out of the ALDS after fracturing two fingers in the final week of the season. The veteran struggled again in 2024, slashing .228/.301/.355 in 92 games; however, he provides defensive value at the position and the Yankees haven’t gotten much from their other options either. Ben Rice will be left off the ALCS in a corresponding move.

Rodón will get the nod for the opener and be followed by Gerrit Cole in Game 3. Clarke Schmidt will likely get Game 3 and Luis Gil the fourth contest, but that hasn’t been announced just yet. Rodón struggled at the end of his start against the Royals on Monday, but he’ll get a shot to give the Yankees an early series lead against Cleveland. It’s worth pointing out that the Guardians registered a .751 OPS against left-handed pitching compared to .685 against righties.