Yankees vs. Guardians: ALCS matchups, predictions and preview

The Yankees’ postseason tour through the AL Central will continue in the ALCS.

After the Yankees knocked off the Royals in the ALDS, they are set to face the division-champion Guardians. They met two years ago in the ALDS, which the Yankees won in five games, and the Yankees also beat Cleveland in the postseason in 2020 and 2017. It’s hard to foresee a different outcome in this best-of-seven as Cleveland barely survived their ALDS against the Tigers and the Yankees took four of six meetings during the regular season.

The Post’s Dan Martin takes a look at how the teams match up heading into Monday’s Game 1 in The Bronx.

At the plate 

Getting on base 

The Yankees hardly hit the cover off the ball against Kansas City, but they had a lot of good, patient at-bats, with Gleyber Torres and Anthony Volpe among the best — although Volpe had little to show for his hard contact. Juan Soto, while not the force he was during the regular season, was adept at drawing walks, as well. Steven Kwan couldn’t make an out against Detroit in the ALDS and Brayan Rocchio also sparked the lineup. Jose Ramirez pummeled Yankee pitching the last two times the teams met in the postseason and has had a ton of success off Gerrit Cole, but went just 3-for-23 in six games against the Yankees this season.

Edge: Yankees

So much for Aaron Judge putting his playoff issues behind him after another stellar regular season. Judge went just 2-for-13 with a double and an infield single, along with five walks. Can his postseason drought (.615 OPS in 32 playoff games since he walked out of Fenway Park blasting “New York, New York” in 2018) continue? Soto walked a few times, but didn’t do much in the ALDS. Hard to imagine that will be the case against Cleveland — especially with Alex Cobb on the mound (career 7-for-11 with a double and two homers).

Giancarlo Stanton continued his usual October outburst with a pair of doubles and the biggest homer of the ALDS. The Yankees led baseball with 237 homers in the regular season, while the Guardians were middle of the pack with 185. Still, Lane Thomas tormented Detroit in the ALDS, as did David Fry, but Ramirez led the offense in the regular season and Josh Naylor — who’s brother, Bo, is the catcher — had 31 homers and angered the Yankees two seasons ago when he did a rock-the-baby motion with his arms after a homer off Cole. Ramirez also hits Cole well.

Edge: Yankees

In the field 

Infield 

Andres Gimenez at second base and Rocchio at short make up a superb middle infield for Cleveland, while Ramirez is fine at third. Volpe has had another strong season at short, but Torres was subpar again at second. Jazz Chisholm Jr. and the combination of Jon Berti and Oswaldo Cabrera — filling in for the injured Anthony Rizzo — were better than expected against the Royals.

Edge: Guardians

Outfield 

Judge and Soto are a bit of a weak link in the outfield, but if they hit like they did in the regular season, it’s not a problem. And for all the concern about Jasson Dominguez’s struggles in left field, Alex Verdugo played every inning there against Kansas City and Aaron Boone indicated he would be out there again versus Cleveland. Kwan is excellent in left, but Thomas and the combination of Will Brennan and Jhonkensy Noel are nothing special in right.

Edge: Even

On the basepaths

Ramirez and Gimenez combined for 71 stolen bases in the regular season, while Stanton — yes, Stanton — was tied for the team lead in swipes against the Royals, with one.

Edge: Guardians

Bench

Outside of Cabrera and Berti splitting time at first, the Yankees mostly ignored their bench in the ALDS, with Dominguez, Ben Rice and Jose Trevino not getting on the field. Cleveland has used its bench more this postseason, but didn’t get much production. Left-handed DH Kyle Manzardo may be used against right-handed pitching.

Edge: Guardians

On the mound

Rotation

Boone declined to name a Game 1 starter Saturday, which tells you about the confidence the team has in Carlos Rodon, who opened strong, but faltered in Game 2 of the ALDS. He didn’t face Cleveland this season and has little experience against their hitters. But with Cole set to go in Game 2 and quality starters Clarke Schmidt and Luis Gil also available (after Gil didn’t appear in the ALDS), the Yankees are in much better shape than Cleveland, which went with Matthew Boyd, Tanner Bibee and Alex Cobb, none of whom completed five innings in a start in the ALDS.

Edge: Yankees

Bullpen

Clay Holmes, Tommy Kahnle and Luke Weaver led a dominating performance by the Yankee bullpen in the ALDS, as the pen tossed 15 ²/₃ ⅔ shutout innings against the Royals. It’s possible Marcus Stroman and/or Mark Leiter Jr. are added to the mix for this round. As good as the Yankees were against the Royals, Cleveland’s pen was excellent all year, with closer Emmanuel Clase coming off one of the best regular-season performances of all time. He was human in the ALDS versus Detroit, allowing four runs in 5 ²/₃ innings, but closed out the series with two perfect innings in Saturday’s Game 5. Cade Smith, Hunter Gaddis, Eli Morgan and lefty Tim Herrin have had excellent seasons.

Edge: Even

Manager

Ex-catcher Stephen Vogt took over for Terry Francona this season and the Guardians didn’t miss a beat, making the postseason for the sixth time in nine years. But he hasn’t been tested by a non-AL Central team in the playoffs. Boone got the most out of his bullpen and first base in the ALDS.

Edge: Even

Intangibles

The Yankees dwarf the Guardians when it comes to payroll, are well rested and have their pitching lined up how they want after a four-game series win over Kansas City, while Vogt had to get very creative with his entire pitching staff in order to barely outlast the Tigers. Plus, the Yankees have dominated Cleveland in the playoffs for more than a decade.

Edge: Yankees