Sep 25, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians left fielder Steven Kwan (38) celebrates his solo home run with designated hitter Kyle Manzardo (9) in the first inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images Beating the Yankees would save the baseball world from the never-ending chatter that would come with a Yankees-Mets all-New York showdown. Or worse, a Yankees-Los Angeles Dodgers pairing. The networks surely aren’t rooting for a World Series that includes the Guardians.
No chance.
Cleveland dropped a 5-2 decision in Game 1 of the American League Championship Series, so the task has already gotten harder.
We study Game 2 when Gerrit Cole looks to pitch New York to a 2-0 lead, break down an NHL contest and flip to the stack of three college football games on the Tuesday night slate.
CLEVELAND GUARDIANS AT NEW YORK YANKEES
Juan Soto (+370 to homer) and Giancarlo Stanton (+320) homered in Game 1 as New York outclassed the Guardians. Both teams had six hits, but Cleveland’s big problem was swinging at air—a staggering 14 strikeouts.
Cole watched the festivities on Monday and certainly has a plan of attack. He’ll grab the tablet and review his Aug. 22 outing against Cleveland when he gave up just one hit in six innings during a 6-0 victory.
The Guardians are hoping Tanner Bibee is up to the task after he compiled a 2.08 ERA in two AL Division Series outings against the Detroit Tigers. He didn’t face the Yankees this season, but he must slow Stanton, who is 7-for-19 with two homers this postseason.
Aaron Judge (+240) has never faced Bibee, but he can go deep against anyone. On the Cleveland side, Josh Naylor (+550) has three homers against Cole, Jose Ramirez (+425) has taken him deep twice and Steven Kwan (+1100) has hit one off him.
Jose Ramirez to homer, +425 (DraftKings)
