ALCS Game 5: Yankees at Guardians game thread

New York could punch their ticket to the Fall Classic tonight

After winning last night’s contest the New York Yankees are now just one win away from a trip to the World Series, which would be their 41st trip to the Fall Classic and first since 2009. For the rest of us that’s not much time but for Yankees fans that’s a lifetime. The Guardians meanwhile face the prospect of beginning their offseason tonight if they can’t take this game and force this series back to New York. The stakes couldn’t be higher for both clubs.

New York will turn to Game 1 starter Carlos Rodon for the chance to send his team to the World Series. This is exactly the type of game the club envisioned him starting when they shelled out hundreds of milllions of dollars for the veteran left-hander and tonight he can reward that investment in him. Rodon looked sharp in Game 1 when he fired off six innings of one-run ball, with the only run coming off a home run in his final inning of work, a much better performance than his first October start this year.

Here is how the Yankees will line up for their chance to go to the World Series:

The Guardians meanwhile have their backs against the wall and literally need to win tonight or their season is over. They’ll also turn to their Game 1 starter in Tanner Bibee. They’ll be hoping for better results than that game as he couldn’t even manage to finish two innings, instead allowing New York to take an early lead that frankly set the tone for the series. Bibee needs to come to the ballpark with a bulldog mentality because his team is literally counting on him to continue their season. It’s not all on him but a large part of it is.

Here is how Cleveland will line up for their final home game of this round and potentially final game of the season:

First pitch is set for 5:08 P.M. Do it die!