It was a pivotal evening at Progressive Field as the Yankees and Guardians faced off in Game 4 of the ALCS.
With New York holding a 2-1 series lead, the stakes were high for both teams. The Yankees, aiming to bounce back after a heartbreaking late-game loss in Game 3, delivered a thrilling 8-6 victory. Giancarlo Stanton provided the game’s turning point with a crucial homer, helping propel the Yankees to within one win of the World Series.
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Yankees one win away from World Series after clutch ninth-inning rally
The Yankees are on the brink of their first World Series berth in 15 years. An 8-6 win in Game 4 gave them a 3-1 series lead, despite a bullpen meltdown that saw a four-run cushion disappear. After a tense stretch, they found a way to rally in the ninth to seal the win. Tommy Kahnle handled the pressure, locking down the final three outs. Tomorrow, the Yankees will look to punch their ticket to the World Series.
Yankees lose the lead in gut-wrenching moment, but bounce back
Mark Leiter Jr. let the Yankees’ lead slip away in a frustrating eighth inning. With two outs and Steven Kwan on third, David Fry hit a soft grounder down the first-base line. Leiter, trying to flip it to Anthony Rizzo, lost his balance, and the ball got past Rizzo, allowing Kwan to score the tying run. What should’ve been a routine play turned into a costly mistake. Leiter managed to recover by striking out Josh Naylor to end the inning, but the game went into the ninth tied at six.
The Yankees, though, wasted no time reclaiming the lead. Alex Verdugo reached on an infield single, and Gleyber Torres followed with a crucial RBI hit to make it 8-6. Emmanuel Clase, who has struggled throughout the postseason, couldn’t stop the Yankees’ offense from breaking through again.
Naylor narrows the gap
Josh Naylor cuts the deficit to one with a two-run double off Clay Holmes, making it a 6-5 game. The Yankees’ bullpen faces a disastrous seventh inning, and there’s still just one out.
Guardians rally in the 7th
Jake Cousins struggled to open the 7th, walking Brayan Rocchio and giving up a single to Steven Kwan. With runners on the corners and no outs, Clay Holmes entered in relief.
Cousins delivers in the 6th
Jake Cousins tossed a scoreless sixth after Giancarlo Stanton’s big home run, keeping the score at 6-2 Yankees. Just nine outs remain for New York to secure a 3-1 series lead.
Stanton blows it open
Giancarlo Stanton extended the Yankees’ lead to 6-2 with a three-run blast in the sixth inning, his fourth homer of the playoffs. Juan Soto walked, Aaron Judge singled, and Jazz Chisholm Jr. moved them over with a bunt, setting the stage for Stanton’s powerful swing.
Strong inning from Tim Hill
Tim Hill continues to impress this postseason, pitching a scoreless fifth inning, including a key strikeout of Josh Taylor. Hill has allowed just 1 earned run in 4.1 playoff innings—a great find for the Yankees’ bullpen.
Yankees quiet at the halfway point
After Austin Wells’ early homer, the Yankees’ offense has gone silent against Cleveland’s bullpen. Ten of the last 11 Yankees have failed to reach base. Luis Gil is done after throwing 79 pitches through four innings, and now it’s up to the bullpen to finish the job.
Guardians close the gap
Josh Naylor, Cleveland’s struggling cleanup hitter, drove in Steven Kwan with a clutch two-out single in the third. Luis Gil struck out Daniel Schneemann to escape further damage, but with a pitch count at 70, his day could be short-lived. The Yankees lead 3-2 after three innings.
Juan Soto’s early blast ignites Yankees’ offense
The Yankees jumped ahead early when Juan Soto crushed a two-run homer in the first inning, giving them a quick 2-0 lead. Soto’s powerful swing on a 3-1 pitch from Gavin Williams set the tone right from the start, putting the Yankees in control.
The Guardians fought back, narrowing the gap to 2-1, but Austin Wells responded in the fourth inning with a solo home run, restoring the Yankees’ lead to 3-1. Wells’ shot gave the Yankees some breathing room as they looked to maintain their early advantage. With big hits from both Soto and Wells, the Yankees continue to control the momentum of the game.
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First pitch is scheduled for 8:08 PM EST, and the Yankees are looking to shake off a tough loss in Game 3, where the Guardians pulled off a late comeback
We’ll provide live score updates and key plays as the game unfolds!
Pre-game
Boone explains Chisholm Jr. in cleanup spot and why Rizzo wasn’t chosen
Aaron Boone recently addressed his decision to bat Jazz Chisholm Jr. in the cleanup spot instead of Giancarlo Stanton, shedding light on his lineup choices. Boone emphasized his focus on balancing the lineup, particularly when it came to the left-handed batters.
“I wanted to move Austin [Wells] down,” Boone explained. “As you guys know, I sometimes obsess over the balance of the lineup. I just didn’t want to leave it with four out of five lefties at the bottom.”
This consideration seems to have played a major role in his decision to place Chisholm in the fourth spot rather than Stanton, who has typically held that role in the past. Boone’s concern about a lefty-heavy lineup, especially toward the bottom, highlights his attention to avoiding vulnerability against opposing pitchers who could exploit the imbalance.
When asked why Anthony Rizzo wasn’t considered for the cleanup spot, Boone noted that while Rizzo had been performing well since his return, he was cautious about pushing him too hard given his recent injury history. “I thought about it,” Boone admitted, “but with Rizz, you never know if you get into a situation where I’ve got to pull him from the game. In the first couple of games back, he’s obviously done well, but it’s still a lot to manage.”
Boone’s priority is making sure Rizzo stays healthy, and he seemed intent on avoiding a situation where Rizzo’s condition could force a mid-game change. His decision to keep Rizzo out of the cleanup spot was largely driven by the need for cautious management of the first baseman’s workload, given the uncertainties surrounding his hand injury. Boone expressed a desire not to risk getting Rizzo into a “tough spot” during the game, a situation that could leave the team with fewer options if he were unable to continue.
Boone’s lineup decisions continue to reflect a mix of tactical balance and player health considerations, especially when dealing with players who have recently returned from injuries. Balancing the lineup while ensuring the well-being of key players like Rizzo requires delicate management, and Boone’s decisions reflect his ongoing focus on both aspects as the season progresses.
Luis Gil gets the nod
The Yankees turn to Luis Gil, who’s had nearly three weeks of rest leading up to his first playoff start. It’s been an interesting year for the 25-year-old right-hander. He’s had flashes of brilliance, going 10-5 with a 3.17 ERA before the All-Star break, but his second half has been less consistent, with a 4.20 ERA over his last 10 starts. Still, Gil’s name is in the Rookie of the Year conversation, and the Yankees need him to step up.
Gil’s last live action came four days ago, when he pitched a simulated game at Yankee Stadium. He threw 70 pitches over four innings and reported that everything felt sharp.
“I feel ready for this opportunity,” Gil said through an interpreter. “My command, execution, and the movement on my pitches felt really good. I’m confident in what I can bring tonight.”
Gil faced Cleveland once this season, back in August, and it wasn’t his best outing. He lasted only three innings, allowing three runs on three hits and six walks, including a home run to Brayan Rocchio. The Yankees will be hoping for a much cleaner performance from their young starter tonight.
Yankees lineup for Game 4 tonight in Cleveland:
- Gleyber Torres, 2B
- Juan Soto, RF
- Aaron Judge, CF
- Jazz Chisholm Jr., 3B
- Giancarlo Stanton, DH
- Anthony Rizzo, 1B
- Anthony Volpe, SS
- Austin Wells, C
- Alex Verdugo, LF
Guardians turn to Gavin Williams
Cleveland will counter with right-hander Gavin Williams, who went 3-10 with a 4.86 ERA in 2024. He’s had his struggles but has also shown promise. Williams faced the Yankees in late August, giving up three runs over 4.1 innings, including a home run to Aaron Judge in a 5-2 loss. He’ll need to be better tonight if the Guardians want to stay in this series.
What’s at stake
The Yankees have a chance to push the Guardians to the brink of elimination with a win tonight, while Cleveland is hoping to even the series at 2-2 and force a Game 5 back in New York. First pitch is set for 8:08 PM, with live coverage on TBS, truTV, and streaming on Max.
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