The New York Yankees sprinted out to a 1-0 lead in the ALCS with a 5-2 Game 1 win in the Bronx, powered by homers from Giancarlo Stanton and Juan Soto and a stellar outing from Carlos Rodón.
New York will look to get a tighter grip on the series in Game 2 on Tuesday at Yankee Stadium, with ace Gerrit Cole on the mound. Cole started twice in the ALDS against the Royals — with the Yankees winning both games — and enters Game 2 of the American League Championship Series at 1-0 this postseason, with a 3.00 ERA in 12 innings pitched with eight strikeouts and two walks.
Cleveland will counter with Tanner Bibee. He has logged 8 2/3 innings in two starts in these playoffs — both were Guardians wins over the Tigers in their ALDS — and struck out nine while walking three. Brayan Rocchio had two of Cleveland’s six hits in Game 1, including a solo home run in the sixth inning, but he’ll need more help from the middle of the Cleveland lineup. José Ramírez, Lane Thomas and Josh Naylor — Cleveland’s 3-4-5 hitters — combined to go 0-for-11 with a walk and five strikeouts in Game 1.
