NEW YORK —The champagne is cleaned up, the cigars have been put out and the flight to New York has been completed.
The American League Championship Series begins Monday night. Either the Guardians, fresh off of their emotional Game 5 win over the Detroit Tigers thanks to Lane Thomas' thunderous grand slam off of Tarik Skubal, or the Yankees, who dispatched the Kansas City Royals in four games, will go to the World Series.
The best-of-seven series opens with Game 1 at Yankee Stadium, as the top-seeded Yankees will have home-field advantage over the No. 2 Guardians. Both teams earned a bye through the Wild Card Series.
Here are the top keys to the series, along with other information you need to need.
Guardians-Yankees ALCS info: Can the Cleveland bullpen continue its run through the postseason?
There was no question the Guardians bullpen would be a major weapon in a postseason setting, where every game is crucially important and the extra off days built into the schedule allow for more of an all-hands-on-deck approach.
That will be tested in this series.
The Guardians bullpen threw more innings than their starters in the ALDS, which never had more than two games in a row and had an extra off day between Games 1 and 2.
The Guardians surely will continue to be hyperaggressive with their bullpen usage, but this best-of-seven series against the Yankees will be a more difficult task. The series has a 2-3-2 format, with off days after Game 2 and Game 5. That means there will be more back-to-back game appearances needed, and it'll also put more pressure on Cleveland starters Tanner Bibee, Alex Cobb and Matthew Boyd.
The trio of starters likely won't need to throw six or seven innings, but they might be needed to face more than nine batters as well.
The Guardians also might need to lean on some other members of the bullpen bit more aside from Emmanuel Clase, Cade Smith and Tim Herrin, as the likes of Eli Morgan, Andrew Walters and Erik Sabrowski might be called on a bit more if the starters run into trouble.
Guardians must contain Aaron Judge, Juan Soto and Giancarlo Stanton in ALCS
The Yankees lineup is extremely dangerous. But it's also a bit top heavy.
The 2-3-4 (sometimes with Austin Wells breaking them up) hitters being Juan Soto, Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton create a minefield-like trio. Judge is the best hitter on the planet, though he's been a sleeping giant in the playoffs thus far. Soto is one of the toughest outs with his combination of power and strike zone discipline. Stanton has been on fire in the postseason, hitting .375 with a 1.132 OPS.
If teams can contain those three, the Yankees lineup has a chance to be managed. It's easier said than done.
ALCS preview: Yankees to attack Guardians lineup with more traditional pitching staff compared to Tigers
The Tigers' pitching strategy was basically Tarik Skubal or pitching chaos, something that gave them great success right up until the moment the ball left Thomas' bat and sailed over the left-field wall in Game 5.
The Yankees will be a bit more on the traditional side, meaning Will Brennan shouldn't have to worry about being taken out of the game in the second inning (as much) because the opposing opener was taken out after six pitches.
The Yankees will throw Carlos Rodon in Game 1 and Gerrit Cole in Game 2.
There will still be elements of a chaotic, new-era style of baseball in this series. But it might not be quite as evident as with the Tigers.
Can Brayan Rocchio continue hot start to 2024 postseason?
The Guardians lineup received a major boost with Steven Kwan producing in the leadoff spot. But Brayan Rocchio, who had a tremendous ALDS, was just as productive out of the No. 9 spot.
Rocchio, who during the regular season grew into a talented defensive shortstop but left much to be desired offensively, hit .375 with a .944 OPS in the ALDS and was one of the lineup's biggest factors.
The Guardians go as Jose Ramirez goes. But Rocchio and Kwan, hitting back-to-back, would give Cleveland a major boost setting up either David Fry or Kyle Manzardo in the No. 2 spot and then Ramirez at No. 3.
How can I watch/stream/listen to Guardians-Yankees ALCS Game 1
Every game of the American League Championship Series will air on TNT and will simulcast on TBS and Max. The game will be broadcast over the radio via WMMS 100.7, WTAM 1100, WARF 1350 and ESPN Radio.
Guardians-Yankees ALCS tickets
Here's how much a Game 1 ticket would cost for the ALCS. And here's where you can buy ALCS tickets at Progressive Field.
Guardians-Yankees ALCS schedule, game times
- Game 1:Cleveland GuardiansatNew York Yankees- Monday, Oct. 14, 7:37 p.m.
- Game 2:Cleveland Guardians at New York Yankees - Tuesday, Oct. 15, 7:37 p.m.
- Game 3:New York Yankees at Cleveland Guardians - Thursday, Oct. 17, 5:08 p.m.
- Game 4:New York Yankees at Cleveland Guardians - Friday, Oct. 18, 8:08 p.m.
- Game 5:New York Yankees at Cleveland Guardians - Saturday, Oct. 19, 8:08 p.m.*
- Game 6:Cleveland Guardians at New York Yankees - Monday, Oct. 21, 5:08 p.m.*
- Game 7:Cleveland Guardians at New York Yankees - Tuesday, Oct. 22, 7:38 p.m.*
When is the 2024 World Series?
The World Series is scheduled to begin Friday, Oct. 25, with Game 2 the next night. Games 3-5 are scheduled for Oct. 28-30. If necessary, Games 6 and 7 are Nov. 1-2. Fox will televise all World Series games.
