Cleveland fans won’t soon forget the Guardians’ epic walk-off Game 3 win over the Yankees on Thursday night, which was punctuated by monster home runs from Jhonkensy Noel and David Fry. But they don’t have much time to bask in the win, with Game 4 on Friday and the Guardians still staring down a 2-1 series deficit.
Both starting pitchers are making their first postseason appearances in this one: Luis Gil for the Yankees (3.50 ERA in 151 2/3 innings this season) and Gavin Williams for the Guardians (4.86 ERA in 76 innings).
Do the Guardians have some more magic in them after Thursday’s heroics? They’ve been solid at home this season and have all the momentum coming off their Game 3 victory. We’ll find out soon enough.
How to watch Yankees vs. Guardians ALCS Game 4 (NYY leads 2-1)
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Live4 updates
Aaron Boone on moving Jazz Chisholm Jr. to cleanup
Flip-flopping Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Giancarlo Stanton in the No. 4 and 5 spots in the lineup is a curious move. Yankees manager Aaron Boone told reporters he did so to balance left- and right-handed batters through the middle and bottom of the batting order.
Why Jazz Chisholm Jr. at cleanup instead of Giancarlo Stanton?
Aaron Boone: “I wanted to move Austin [Wells] down, and as you guys know, I obsess sometimes with the balance of it. I just didn’t want to leave it with four out of five lefties [at the bottom of the lineup].”
Yankees closer Luke Weaver blew the save in Thursday’s Game 3, allowing two runs on two hits (including a home run) in 1 1/3 innings.
It was Weaver’s third appearance of the series, which included a five-out save in Game 1. After Thursday’s performance, whether or not Weaver is tiring out under a heavy postseason workload was a question
Luke Weaver and Clay Holmes have pitched in three out of four days. Boone said he might use “some” relievers four out of five, but would not say which ones.
Gavin Williams makes his postseason debut for the Guardians. During the regular season, he went 3–10 with a 4.86 ERA and 79 strikeouts in 76 innings.
Yankees lineup, Game 4: Jazz Chisholm Jr. at cleanup, Luis Gil makes first postseason start
Jazz Chisholm Jr. is moved up to the cleanup spot, despite batting 2-for-12 in the first three games of the ALCS and .148 in the postseason. Giancarlo Stanton goes down to fifth in the batting order.
Yankees lineup for Game 4:
1. Gleyber Torres, 2B 2. Juan Soto, RF 3. Aaron Judge, CF 4. Jazz Chisholm Jr., 3B 5. Giancarlo Stanton, DH 6. Anthony Rizzo, 1B 7. Anthony Volpe, SS 8. Austin Wells, C 9. Alex Verdugo, LF
Luis Gil starts on the mound for the first time this postseason. The rookie went 15–4 during the regular season with a 3.50 ERA and 171 strikeouts in 151 2/3 innings.
