Tuesday ALCS open thread

When it came to the rooting interests of Birdland, Game 1 of the ALCS didn’t exactly go our way. The Yankees took an early lead thanks to a Juan Soto HR and lack of control from the Guardians pitching staff, and New York never looked back. Now we’ll all have to root like hell that this Guardians lineup can bounce back against Yankees ace Gerrit Cole to send things back to Cleveland tied 1-1.

7:38pm ET— Guardians at Yankees, Game 2, TBS (NY lead 1-0)

Probable pitchers: RHP Tanner Bibee (8.2 IP, 2.08 ERA, 9 Ks this postseason) vs. RHP Gerrit Cole (12.0 IP, 3.00 ERA, 8 Ks this postseason)

Both starters are coming off strong outings in their respective ALDS victories. Bibee allowed two runs over four innings as the Game 4 starter against the Tigers. The Guardians went 2-0 in games started by Bibee against the Tigers and will look to carry that confidence into Yankee Stadium Tuesday night.

Cole rebounded from a shaky Game 1 against the Royals to pitch seven innings of one-run ball in Game 4’s series-clinching win. This will be the reigning Cy Young winner’s fifth career playoff start against Cleveland and he’ll look to duplicate his past success in 2024. Across three starts with the Yankees and one with the Astros, Cole has thrown 27.1 postseason innings against the now Guardians, posting a 1.98 ERA and 41 Ks.

The last time these two teams faced off in the playoffs—back in the 2022 ALDS—the Yankees also won Game 1 only for the Guardians to storm back and take Game 2 in extra innings. That Game 2 victory in 2022 was Cleveland’s first playoff win in New Yankee Stadium, so all Guardians fans (and plenty of neutrals) will be hoping they can repeat that feat against the 2024 Yanks.