Yankees vs. Cleveland Guardians: A Statistical Breakdown of the ALDS Matchup

The American League Division Series (ALDS) between the New York Yankees and the Cleveland Guardians promises to be a thrilling and close-fought matchup. Both teams boast impressive regular season records and have a rich history of success in the postseason. To preview this highly anticipated series, let's delve into the player statistics that will shape the outcome.

Pitching Matchup

Yankees:

• Gerrit Cole: 13-8, 3.50 ERA, 257 strikeouts
• Nestor Cortes: 12-4, 2.44 ERA, 163 strikeouts
• Luis Severino: 6-3, 3.18 ERA, 112 strikeouts

Guardians:

• Shane Bieber: 13-8, 2.88 ERA, 187 strikeouts
• Triston McKenzie: 11-11, 3.24 ERA, 192 strikeouts
• Cal Quantrill: 15-5, 3.38 ERA, 186 strikeouts

The Yankees' rotation is led by Gerrit Cole, a former Cy Young Award winner. Cole has been a workhorse for the Yankees this season, leading the team in innings pitched and strikeouts. Nestor Cortes and Luis Severino provide solid options as the second and third starters, respectively.

The Guardians' rotation is anchored by Shane Bieber, the 2020 AL Cy Young Award winner. Bieber has returned from injury to post another impressive season, leading the Guardians in strikeouts and ERA. Triston McKenzie and Cal Quantrill are two young, talented pitchers who have been key contributors to the Guardians' success this year.

Batting Matchup

Yankees:

• Aaron Judge: .311 BA, 62 HR, 131 RBI
• Anthony Rizzo: .224 BA, 32 HR, 75 RBI
• Giancarlo Stanton: .211 BA, 29 HR, 84 RBI

Guardians:

• José Ramírez: .280 BA, 29 HR, 126 RBI
• Andrés Giménez: .305 BA, 18 HR, 69 RBI
• Amed Rosario: .283 BA, 11 HR, 72 RBI

The Yankees' offense is led by reigning AL MVP Aaron Judge, who set a new AL single-season home run record with 62 this year. Anthony Rizzo and Giancarlo Stanton provide power and protection in the middle of the lineup.

The Guardians' offense is more balanced, led by José Ramírez, a perennial All-Star who has been one of the best third basemen in baseball for several seasons. Andrés Giménez and Amed Rosario are two young, rising stars who have contributed significantly to the Guardians' success this year.

Key Stats and Trends

• The Yankees have the best home record in baseball (56-25) this season.
• The Guardians have the second-best road record in the AL (44-37) this season.
• The Yankees have won 12 of their last 15 games heading into the playoffs.
• The Guardians have won 9 of their last 12 games heading into the playoffs.
• The Yankees are 6-3 against the Guardians in the regular season this year.

Head-to-Head Matchups

In the three regular season matchups between the Yankees and Guardians this year, the Yankees have won two of the three games. Gerrit Cole has pitched well against the Guardians this season, allowing only one earned run in 13 innings pitched. Shane Bieber has struggled against the Yankees, allowing four earned runs in 10 innings pitched.

Conclusion

The Yankees vs. Cleveland Guardians ALDS matchup is a toss-up between two evenly matched teams. The Yankees have the edge in power and home-field advantage, while the Guardians have a balanced offense and a strong pitching staff. The series is likely to be decided by key matchups in the pitching and hitting departments.

Tables

Table 1: Pitching Stats

Table 2: Batting Stats

| Player | Team | BA | HR | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aaron Judge | Yankees | .311 | 62 | 131 |
| Anthony Rizzo | Yankees | .224 | 32 | 75 |
| Giancarlo Stanton | Yankees | .211 | 29 | 84 |
| José Ramírez | Guardians | .280 | 29 | 126 |
| Andrés Giménez | Guardians | .305 | 18 | 69 |
| Amed Rosario | Guardians | .283 | 11 | 72 |

Table 3: Head-to-Head Matchups