Bullpen battle takes center stage in Yankees vs. Guardians ALCS series
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Follow UsThe New York Yankees are poised to kick off the American League Championship Series (ALCS) at home on Monday night against the Cleveland Guardians, a familiar postseason rival. This marks their fourth playoff meeting in the last eight seasons.
The two teams were closely matched for the best record in the American League this season, with the Yankees finishing at 94-68, securing home-field advantage over the Guardians, who ended at 92-69. In their regular-season meetings, the Yankees held a 4-2 edge over Cleveland. But the most interesting part was their bullpens, which can tilt a game.
The Cleveland Guardians’ pitching prowess is largely centered in their bullpen, a point emphasized by Yankees manager Aaron Boone. Closer Emmanuel Clase has been exceptional this season, posting a remarkable 0.61 ERA and securing 47 saves over 74 appearances, ranking among the top relief performances in baseball history.
Detroit Tigers manager A.J. Hinch noted the challenges teams face when trying to score against Cleveland’s bullpen, attributing the Guardians’ 90-plus win season and playoff advancement to this significant strength.
“They’re so hard to score against and so hard to match up against,” Hinch said. “And that’s why they won 90-plus games, and that’s why they’re advancing.”
The New York Yankees’ bullpen started the season as one of the best in baseball but faced a downturn for nearly three months before regaining its form in September and October. Their performance in the American League Division Series (ALDS) against the Kansas City Royals was particularly noteworthy, as they did not allow an earned run in 15 2/3 innings.
Luke Weaver took over the closer role from Clay Holmes late in the season and excelled, saving all three of the Yankees’ victories in the ALDS. Tommy Kahnle’s changeup proved highly effective, with a rival scout labeling it “pretty much unhittable.” Kahnle struck out three batters and did not allow a hit in his three ALDS appearances.
Clay Holmes, who appeared in all four games of the ALDS, showed marked improvement by refocusing on his primary pitch, the sinker, rather than leaning too heavily on his slider. He allowed only three hits while striking out three batters across his outings.
Yankees ace Gerrit Cole praised the bullpen’s efforts, calling their performance “rock-solid.” He highlighted the resilience of the relievers, stating that overcoming challenges throughout the season has only made them stronger. Cole expressed confidence in the bullpen, affirming the team’s trust in these pitchers during critical moments.
“Rock-solid,” the ace commented about the Yankees’ relief corps. “Those guys have faced some ups and downs this year, and they persevered. It’s made them better. They want the ball. We want them with the ball.”
This revival of the Yankees’ bullpen, combined with the Guardians’ consistently strong relief pitching, sets the stage for a potentially decisive bullpen matchup in the upcoming American League Championship Series.
Clay Holmes expressed excitement about the performance and camaraderie of the New York Yankees’ bullpen, highlighting the strong bonds among the relief pitchers and their collective support. He noted that their recent success showcases their true potential.
“It’s fun,” he remarked. “Obviously we got a good group down there. We have a lot of fun. We’re pretty tight knit. We’re all rooting for each other. To see that happen was cool. I think that’s what we’re capable of and that’s what we know we can do.”
The New York Yankees’ playoff history with the Cleveland Guardians includes two memorable Division Series losses. The 2007 series is particularly notable due to an unusual incident in Game 2 when a swarm of midges from Lake Erie invaded what was then Jacobs Field. This unexpected occurrence significantly impacted Yankees pitcher Joba Chamberlain’s performance, contributing to a critical loss.
In the 1997 series, the spotlight turned to Hall of Fame closer Mariano Rivera, who experienced a rare postseason setback. In Game 4, Sandy Alomar Jr. hit a game-tying home run off Rivera, marking one of the most notable postseason hits against the legendary closer. The Yankees, who had secured the World Series title in 1996 and would claim three more championships from 1998 to 2000, ultimately lost that game and the series in Game 5.
Yankees’ Boone keeps a tab on Guardians’ bats
Yankees manager Aaron Boone acknowledged Cleveland’s strong performance throughout the year, emphasizing their dominance in the AL Central division. He praised the Guardians for their versatility, particularly highlighting their outstanding bullpen, athleticism, and defensive prowess. Boone also noted the balanced nature of Cleveland’s offense, specifically pointing out the threat posed by their middle-order hitters, including star José Ramírez.
“Obviously, Cleveland all year has been that front-runner in the Central and put together a real consistent, solid year,” he told reporters. “They do it a lot of different ways. A tremendous bullpen, athletic, they defend really well. They’re pretty balanced in their attack. Obviously, they have a couple of guys that can really hurt you in the middle of the order [with] a superstar player in [Jose] Ramirez.”
This matchup continues a recent trend of postseason encounters between the franchises. In 2022, the Yankees won a five-game American League Division Series (ALDS), while in the 2020 COVID-shortened season, New York triumphed in a best-of-three Wild Card Series at Cleveland’s home field. In 2017, the Yankees rallied from a 2-0 deficit in the ALDS to win three straight, including a crucial Game 5 in Cleveland.
The most notable previous clash with World Series implications occurred in 1998 when the Yankees, boasting a 114-48 regular-season record, faced the Guardians in the ALCS. Cleveland took a 2-1 series lead before New York ultimately triumphed in six games.
The present Guardians lineup, highlighted by scrappy leadoff hitter Steven Kwan, relies more on aggressive baserunning and overall grit than on raw power. This style of play has drawn comparisons to the Kansas City Royals, whom the Yankees recently defeated in the Division Series.
Detroit Tigers manager A.J. Hinch praised the Guardians’ approach, noting that their style positions them for continued success in the postseason. This assessment underscores the potential challenge the Guardians present to the Yankees in the upcoming American League Championship Series, despite the contrasting offensive strategies compared to Cleveland teams of the past.
While the late 1990s Cleveland teams were celebrated for their powerful offenses, the current Guardians have a different profile. Their offense is led by perennial AL MVP candidate Jose Ramirez, who delivered an impressive season with 39 home runs, 39 doubles, 41 stolen bases, and 118 RBIs. Josh Naylor has also made significant contributions, posting 31 home runs, 27 doubles, and 101 RBIs.
Holmes’ sinker boost for Yankees
Clay Holmes, the New York Yankees’ right-handed pitcher, has experienced a remarkable turnaround at a critical juncture for the team. After being removed from the closer’s role just over a month ago, Holmes has allowed only two runs in his last 14 appearances. His five scoreless innings played a pivotal role in the Yankees’ victory over the Kansas City Royals in the American League Division Series (ALDS).
During the regular season, Holmes posted a 3-5 record with a 3.14 ERA and 30 saves in 67 appearances. However, he also led the majors with 13 blown saves, a statistic that prompted the Yankees to shift him out of the closer role following a game-ending grand slam allowed to Texas Rangers rookie Wyatt Langford on September 3. Holmes suffered additional blown saves against the Royals and Seattle on September 11 and 18, respectively, but he managed eight scoreless outings that helped secure home-field advantage for the Yankees throughout the American League playoffs.
Reflecting on his adjustments, Holmes noted that his confidence and identity as a pitcher are not contingent on a specific title or role. This mindset appears to have contributed significantly to his recent success.
“I think for me, my confidence, my identity, who I am, what I can do is not really tied in so much to some title that is given to me,” he said. “More times than not when I’m at my best my sinker’s really good. I think I made it a point to figure that out. I started throwing it more and I knew I had to get back to that.”
The Yankees’ bullpen as a unit has been outstanding in the postseason. In their ALDS series against the Royals, which ended with a 14-12 aggregate score, the relief corps combined for 15 2/3 scoreless innings. This performance ranks as the third-most scoreless innings by a team’s relievers in postseason history, trailing only the Minnesota Twins’ 18 1/3 innings in the 1991 ALCS against Toronto and the Los Angeles Dodgers’ 17 innings against the Chicago Cubs in the 2017 NLCS.
As the Yankees gear up to face the Cleveland Guardians in the American League Championship Series, Holmes’ resurgence and the overall strength of the bullpen could be crucial in their quest for a World Series title.
Holmes played a vital role in the tightly contested American League Division Series (ALDS) against the Kansas City Royals, appearing in every game of a series where all matches were decided by two runs or fewer. He secured a win in the opening game and made critical contributions throughout the series. In Game 3, he relieved Clarke Schmidt, successfully stranding two runners in the fifth inning and pitching for 1 1/3 innings. During the series-clinching game, Holmes turned in a flawless eighth inning, paving the way for Luke Weaver to earn his third save of the series.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone praised Holmes’ recent outings, reaffirming his confidence in the pitcher even during tougher times. Boone described Holmes as a highly skilled player whose true abilities are now coming to the forefront.
Statistical analysis indicates that Holmes adjusted his pitch selection as the season progressed. His sinker usage dropped from 69.5% in 2023 to 56.3% overall during the regular season, but he increased it to 67.1% in the final month, leading opponents to bat just .200 against him. In the ALDS against Kansas City, 41 of his 58 pitches were sinkers.
Holmes credited his recent success to an improved grip on his sinker. He acknowledged that his best performances often coincided with the effectiveness of this pitch and explained that he made a deliberate effort to refine and increase its usage. This adjustment seems to have played a significant role in his postseason resurgence and could be crucial as the Yankees prepare for the upcoming American League Championship Series against the Cleveland Guardians.
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