For the 2nd straight night, sports fans in New York will have their remotes in hand, as the American League Championship Series gets underway, with the Yankees hosting the Cleveland Guardians, while, across the river in New Jersey, the Jets host Buffalo on Monday Night Football. The Yanks-Guardians game gets a headstart, set to begin on TBS just after 7:30 (ET), which should be after the Mets & Dodgers conclude their business at Dodger Stadium.
Alex Cobb gets the start for Cleveland, while Aaron Boone is entrusting Carlos Rodon to open the series for the Yankees. New York will follow with Gerrit Cole, Clarke Schmidt, & Luis Gil in games 2-4, in that order.
Cleveland is coming off a 5 game ALDS victory over Central division rival Detroit, reaching the ALCS for the first time in 8 years, hoping to return to the World Series. One would think that the Yankees might be the beneficiaries of extra rest, but as we saw with Dodgers-Mets game 1 last night, that's not always the case. The Dodgers rode the momentum from eliminating San Diego on Friday to a 9-0 rout last night.
Thus, it's the momentum of the Guardians that the Yankees have to blunt, first & foremost. The Bronx Bombers would love to get superstars Aaron Judge, Juan Soto, & Giancarlo Stanton to the Fall Classic, just as much as Cleveland would like to reward their MVP candidate, Jose Ramirez. The Guardians also acquired playoff hero Lane Thomas from Washington at the trade deadline, and Thomas is 5 years removed from winning a ring with the Nationals.
Cleveland would love to have some more positive vibes in the fall, considering the Browns are in the basement of the AFC North at the moment. Fans in New York will be busy all week, between the Yankees, Mets, Rangers, Islanders, Jets, and preseason basketall with the Knicks & Nets.
I would concede game 1 to Cleveland if Rodon isn't on his A game, based on what I've seen this season.
That said......
The pick: Yankees in 6.
Of course, I could be wrong.
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