Yankees vs Guardians

The Cleveland Guardians have advanced to the American League Championship Series (ALCS) after defeating the Detroit Tigers 7-3 in Game 5 of the AL Division Series, with Lane Thomas hitting a grand slam and recording five RBIs. The Guardians, who entered the season with low expectations, have surprised many under first-year manager Stephen Vogt, winning the AL Central and aiming to end their World Series drought since 1948. They will face the New York Yankees in the ALCS, a team they have met in the postseason six times previously, including a five-game ALDS loss in 2022. The Yankees finished the regular season with a slightly better record than the Guardians, going 94-68 compared to Cleveland's 92-69. Game 1 of the ALCS is set for Monday night in the Bronx, where the Yankees will seek to leverage their historical playoff success against Cleveland. Both teams have yet to announce their starting pitchers for the opening game.