The Yankees are coasting into Cleveland on Thursday for Games 3, 4, and 5 of the ALCS, following their dominant performance in the first two games against the Guardians in the Bronx. With just two victories needed to secure their first World Series appearance since 2009, the Bronx is absolutely buzzing as the zoo can almost taste a postseason as reminiscent as a good old fashioned 90s run.
While the Yankees know all too well that a 2-0 lead in the ALCS, or even a 3-0 lead is no ticket punched to the World Series, MLB’s Sarah Langs noted that in all best-of-7 postseason series, teams that take a 2-0 lead have won the series 76 out of 91 times, which is an 84% success rate. In the current 2-3-2 format, teams that win the first two games at home have gone on to win the series 44 out of 55 times, translating to an 80% win rate.
In all best-of-7 postseason series, teams taking a 2-0 lead have gone on to win the series 76 of 91 times (84%)
Under the current 2-3-2 format, teams winning the first two games at home have gone on to take the series 44 of 55 times (80%)
— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) October 16, 2024
Success stories come in all shapes and sizes, and the Yankees are no exception. In baseball, it truly takes a village, and that village comprises all 26 players on the roster. What’s vital is how unexpected heroes often step up to fill the gaps when regular stars are sidelined. Whether it’s a rookie making a clutch play or a seasoned veteran rising to the occasion, these contributions are what propel the team forward. In this article, I’ll explore the crucial variables that have played a key role in the Yankees’ success in the ALCS, highlighting the unsung heroes and pivotal moments.
The Ferocious Jungle Cat, His Herd, and the Unpredictable Dynamics of the Yankees’ Bullpen with Luke Weaver
Entering October, the Yankees’ bullpen was a significant concern, but manager Aaron Boone appears to have discovered a winning strategy. In the postseason so far, Clay Holmes and Luke Weaver have been the primary options in all six games, making history as just the sixth duo in MLB history to appear in the first six postseason contests. This marks a much-needed turnaround for Holmes, who nearly set a record for most blown saves in a season with 13. By shifting him down in the bullpen, he seems to have regained his confidence at a crucial time.
The Yankees began using Weaver as their closer in September, and he hasn’t disappointed since. Previously a journeyman starter, “the ferocious jungle cat” has successfully converted all four of his postseason save opportunities and has closed out all five of the Yankees’ victories, with three of his four saves spanning more than one inning.
@yankees The Ferocious Jungle Cat, Luke Weaver 😤 #yankees #mlb #baseball #lukeweaver #funny
Holmes and Weaver aren’t the only ones worthy of recognition. The entire bullpen has been outstanding, not allowing a single earned run in four games during the ALDS against the Royals. After six postseason games, they boast an impressive cumulative ERA of 0.77, with only two earned runs given up. Tommy Kahnle and lefty Tim Hill have each appeared in four games, while Ian Hamilton, Jake Cousins, and Tim Mayza have made one appearance each.
Anthony Rizzo may have contributed to the bullpen’s resurgence. Yankees bullpen coach Mike Harkey told Meredith Marokovits that Rizzo often makes prank calls to the bullpen during games to lighten the mood and ease the tension.
Apparently Anthony Rizzo prank calls the bullpen in the middle of games to cut the tension🤣pic.twitter.com/oyNGw6oMdg
— Fireside Yankees (@FiresideYankees) October 16, 2024
Ring, Ring, the Rizz is Calling
The veteran first baseman Anthony Rizzo made his return to the Yankees’ roster for the ALCS against the Guardians, despite breaking two fingers on September 28. Although he had a tough regular season with the lowest OPS of his career (81 OPS+), he has contributed largely in the first two ALCS games, batting .429 with a .500 OBP and a 1.071 OPS in seven at-bats. It’s like he’s been here before.
Gleyber Torres’ Revival as the Yankees’ Leadoff Spark
After a standout season with 25 home runs and a strong 14.6% strikeout rate, Gleyber Torres was poised for another dominant year as he approached free agency. However, he started poorly, leading to a drop in the batting order just two weeks in. By June 1, he was struggling with a .229/.310/.327 batting line and had the most errors among second basemen. His power faded, with his first home run not coming until May 2, and his plate discipline declined, causing the skills that had made him successful to slip away. However, the All-Star break proved to be a major turning point in the 27-year-old free agents’ season. On August 16, Yankees manager Aaron Boone moved Torres back to the leadoff spot, and he responded with a strong performance, posting a .313/.386/.454 line over the final 39 games of the season. This late-season momentum has continued into the postseason, where Torres has reached base in five of New York’s six October games, batting .292/.433/.500 with two doubles, a home run, and more walks (six) than strikeouts (four).
The Bombers are firing
Gleyber Torres and Juan Soto have created an effective 1-2 punch at the top of the Yankees’ lineup. Torres has gone 3-for-4 with two walks when leading off, while Soto has a strong 4-for-5 record with a walk as the second batter.
According to Sarah Langs, the Yankees have a .490 OBP leading off an inning this postseason in large part due to the Torres-Soto duo—the second-highest by any team in the first 6 games of a postseason, behind only the 1965 Dodgers’ .510.
Juan Soto got his first postseason homerun of the year and as a Yankee in Game 2 of the ALCS in the Broxn. At 25 years and 355 days, Soto is the youngest player at the time of his first HR in the postseason with a third team.
The combination of Torres and Soto sets the stage for two of the league’s most powerful hitters, Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton.
Stanton is slashing a .304/.385/1.0347 batting line this postseason with just two home runs in six games. With 13 career home runs under his belt, Stanton needs just two home runs to reach Babe Ruth’s postseason home run number (15), and ranks fifth among all postseason home run leaders, all Yankees.
Most HR in Postseason, Yankees History:
Bernie Williams: 22
Derek Jeter: 20
Mickey Mantle: 18
Babe Ruth: 15
Giancarlo Stanton: 13
Aaron Judge: 13 https://t.co/FHzAvwW0zN— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) October 15, 2024
ALL rise, here come the Judge! Much like his slow start to the season, Aaron Judge had a frustrating start to the postseason, having gone 2-for-13 with zero RBI’s in the ALDS, and it took him some time to heat up. As I mentioned in the ALCS preview, though, loyal Yankee fans can often sense when the Captain is on the verge of a breakout. In Game 2 of the ALCS, he officially connected for his first sac fly and home run of the postseason, finishing with three of the team’s four RBI’s of the night.
The Yankees’ Journey Forward
As they continue their quest for the championship, the focus will remain on the key moments and unsung players that have defined their ALCS journey, highlighting the spirit of resilience and unity that makes postseason baseball so captivating.
Game 3: October 17, 2024 | 5:08 PM ET on TBS | RHP Clarke Schmidt vs. LHP Matthew Boyd
Game 4: October 18, 2024 | 8:08 PM ET on TBS | RHP Luis Gil vs. TBD
Game 5 (if necessary): October 19, 2024 | 8:08 PM ET on TBS | TBD vs. TBD
Game 6 (if necessary): October 21, 2024 | 5:08 PM ET on TBS | TBD vs. TBD
Game 7 (if necessary): October 22, 2024 | 7:38 PM ET on TBS | TBD vs. TBD
