The New York Yankees and Cleveland Guardians face off in Cleveland on Thursday for game three of their best-of-seven American League Championship series. The Guardians find themselves in a difficult position, trailing the series 2-0 after suffering a 6-2 defeat to the Yankees in game two on Tuesday night. The pitching duel for Thursday features Yankees’ right-hander Clarke Schmidt (5-5, 2.85/0-0, 3.86) against Guardians’ left-hander Matthew Boyd (2-2, 2.72/0-0, 0.00). The first pitch is set for 5:08 pm EST.
Yankees Rely on Schmidt
The New York Yankees secured a 2-0 series lead on Tuesday, highlighted by the resurgence of Aaron Judge. In the 6-2 victory, Yankees’ starter Gerrit Cole managed 4.2 innings, while Judge, a favorite for the AL MVP title, hit his first postseason home run. With the Yankees leading 4-2, Judge launched a two-run shot to center field in the seventh inning, providing the team with a comfortable margin for their second consecutive win in the series.
“It was a big swing to kind of give us that cushion,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone remarked, noting the excitement on the bench after the homer.
Now, the Yankees turn to righty Clarke Schmidt, who aims to push the series lead to 3-0 on Thursday night. Schmidt previously made one playoff start this season, pitching 4.2 innings against the Royals, allowing four hits and two runs. On the road this season, he holds a record of 3-3 with an impressive ERA of 1.39 and 46 strikeouts across eight starts. He faced the Guardians once this season, yielding three hits over five innings while walking five and striking out seven. With a day of rest, Schmidt will have a well-prepared bullpen ready to support him.
Guardians Turn to Boyd for a Spark
Returning home to Cleveland, the Guardians are in a must-win situation after failing to secure a victory in New York. In game two, they left an astounding 11 runners on base and struggled with runners in scoring position, going 0-for-7. Starter Tanner Bibee’s short outing of just 1.1 innings allowed five hits and two runs, while errors in the usually reliable Guardians defense compounded their struggles. The bullpen was heavily utilized, extending for 7.2 innings and giving up three additional runs.
“We’re one swing of the bat away from taking the lead in that game,” said Cleveland manager Stephen Vogt. “That is who we are. We don’t quit. We just need to keep being us.”
The Guardians look to revitalize their performance in front of their home crowd, turning to lefty Matthew Boyd for game three. Boyd has yet to allow a run in 6.2 postseason innings, striking out ten while giving up five hits. In the regular season, he faced the Yankees once, going 5.1 innings and allowing four hits and three runs, including two home runs. Boyd is likely to have a shorter leash in this game, as the Guardians plan to utilize their entire bullpen to secure a crucial victory.
Strategic Insights for Yankees vs. Guardians
The Guardians’ offense shows signs of potential breakthrough as they prepare for game three. Despite a dismal 1-for-11 performance with runners in scoring position thus far, star third baseman Jose Ramirez’s late solo home run against Yankees’ closer Luke Weaver could indicate a shift. Cleveland’s running game has been nearly non-existent, with only one stolen base in the first two games. They faced significant struggles when trailing early in matches during the regular season, and their playoff record reflects those challenges.
Fielding Boyd in game three is a strategic move, given that he has yet to yield a run in his limited playoff appearances. Predictions suggest that Boyd could deliver three to four innings of solid performance, helping the Guardians to score first and maintain a lead. The Guardians have shown resilience, previously coming back to tie a series after facing adversity, and they will look to replicate that spirit against Schmidt and the Yankees’ bullpen.
Cleveland emerges as an appealing option on the money line for this matchup.
