Cleveland, OH
ALCS-Hitting Stars May Shine As New York Yankees Face Cleveland Guardians
CLEVELAND, OH – OCTOBER 12: Jose Ramirez #11 of the Cleveland Guardians looks on prior to Game 5 of … [+]
Defeating the Kansas City Royals in their American League Division Series, the New York Yankees proved they are more an orchestra than a one-man band.
Their victory was a total team effort.
Yankees slugger Aaron Judge got only two hits in 18 plate appearances against the pesky Royals.
Now, Judge and his Yankees will take on the underdog Cleveland Guardians in the American League Championship Series.
The series could come down to the Yankees power vs. the Guardians bullpen.
Game 1 of the best-of-seven ALCS began October 14 in Yankee Stadium.
The Yankees won the game, 5-2. Both Juan Soto and Giancarlo Stanton homered in the game.
CLEVELAND, OHIO – OCTOBER 12: Lane Thomas #8 of the Cleveland Guardians celebrates a grand slam … [+]
Guardians Defeat The Tigers:
While the Yankees were eliminating the Royals, the other American League Division Series saw the Guardians defeat the Detroit Tigers in five games.
To advance to the ALCS against the Yankees, the Guardians beat presumptive American League Cy Young Award Winner, Tarik Skubal, in the fifth and deciding game of the series.
A fifth inning grand slam blast by Guardians center fielder Lane Thomas put the Guardians ahead in the game. They hung on and won, 7-3.
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI – OCTOBER 10: Juan Soto #22 of the New York Yankees looks on prior to the game … [+]
“Don’t Let These Guys Beat You”
Pre-game locker room meetings generally include the manager saying something like, “Don’t let these guys beat you.” He then lists the guys his pitching staff has to control.
Guardians manager Steven Vogt has probably listed Yankees sluggers Juan Soto, Aaron Judge, and Giancarlo Stanton.
In the regular season, those three hit 126 combined home runs.
Judge hit 58. Soto hit 41. Stanton hit 27.
Cleveland’s pitchers have to keep those three sluggers in check.
The Guardians can’t come close to matching the firepower of Judge, Soto, and Stanton.
The Guardians, however, do have Jose Ramirez and Josh Naylor hitting in the third and fourth spots in their lineup.
Ramirez, one of the game’s best pure hitters, and Naylor, can carry the club when they get hot.
Ramirez, a switch-hitter, finished the season with 39 homers, and 41 stolen bases. He also stroked 39 doubles.
Naylor, a streaky left-handed hitter, blasted 31 homers, and 27 doubles.
In short, it would not surprise this scout if these five players are consequential in determining the ultimate outcome of the American League Championship Series:
Juan Soto, Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, Jose Ramirez, and Josh Naylor.
We saw Soto and Stanton shine in Game 1.
The Guardians bats can turn very cold at times.
The Yankees, too, can become very inconsistent.
Good pitching may win the series.
The Guardians have adequate starters, and a wonderful, but tired bullpen.
The Yankees have adequate starters, and a rejuvenated, excellent bullpen.
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI – OCTOBER 10: Gerrit Cole #45 of the New York Yankees celebrates after a win … [+]
Pitching Matchups:
fangraphs.com projects the following pitching matchups for the ALCS:
October 14-Game 1-at New York=Yankees LHP Carlos Rodon started vs. Guardians RHP Alex Cobb
October 15-Game 2-at New York=Yankees RHP Gerrit Cole vs. Guardians RHP Tanner Bibee
October 17-Game 3-at Cleveland= Yankees RHP Clarke Schmidt vs. Guardians LHP Matthew Boyd
October 18-Game 4-at Cleveland= Yankees RHP Luis Gil vs. Guardians RHP Gavin Williams
If necessary, the series would continue as follows:
October 19-Game 5-at Cleveland
October 21-Game 6-at New York
October 22-Game 7-at New York
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI – OCTOBER 10: Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees celebrates after a win … [+]
Lineups and Supporting Casts:
Both the Yankees and Guardians have a roster of players capable of stepping up in big games.
Fangraphs.com lists the following starting lineups-
Yankees:
Gleyber Torres-2B
Juan Soto-RF
Aaron Judge-CF
Austin Wells-C
Giancarlo Stanton-DH
Jazz Chisholm-3B
Anthony Rizzo-1B
Anthony Volpe-SS
Alex Verdugo-LF
Cleveland Guardians’ Steven Kwan relaxes at third base between pitches during the second inning of … [+]
Guardians:
Steven Kwan-LF
Kyle Manzardo-DH against RHP, or David Fry against LHP
Jose Ramirez-3B
Josh Naylor-1B
Lane Thomas-CF
Andres Gimenez-2B
Will Brennan-RF against RHP or Jhonkensy Noel against LHP
Bo Naylor-C
Brayan Rocchio-SS
Cleveland Guardians pitcher Emmanuel Clase throws during a workout Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024, in New … [+]
Bullpen Strengths:
The Guardians bullpen may be the greatest strength of their team.
The Guardians feature Emmanuel Clase as their closer. His wicked slider/cutter combination is very tough to navigate.
Hunter Gaddis, Cade Smith and lefty Tim Herrin have been outstanding in setting-up Clase.
The Guardians bullpen is deep, superb, and likely overworked.
The Yankees bullpen is becoming a strength of their club.
Veteran right-hander Luke Weaver has stabilized the closer’s role since taking over for Clay Holmes.
This is the first year Weaver has saved games, and he’s been outstanding.
Holmes seems more comfortable and effective in a set-up role.
Right-hander Tommy Kahnle will likely also be used in the high leverage seventh or eighth innings.
Conclusions:
New York is favored in the American League Championship Series, but the Guardians are a pesky, scrappy baseball team.
Often times a player like Lane Thomas of the Guardians, or Jazz Chisholm of the Yankees can be the hero in a seven-game series.
Perhaps the short right field porch in Yankee Stadium is consequential.
This old scout still looks for heroics to come from among Juan Soto, Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, Jose Ramirez or Josh Naylor.
Cleveland, OH
Medical examiner releases new details about bodies of 2 young girls found in suitcases near Cleveland school
CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner released new information about the bodies of two young girls found in suitcases in Cleveland’s South Collinwood neighborhood.
On Wednesday morning, the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner confirmed through DNA that the two girls are half-siblings.
At this time, they have not been positively identified, and no further information is available while the investigation is ongoing.
In a news conference on Tuesday, Cleveland Police Chief Dorothy Todd confirmed the bodies of two young girls were found in suitcases on the city’s East Side on Monday evening.
Cleveland police were called just after 6 p.m. to a field in the area of East 163rd and Midland Avenue for a suspected dead body.
According to police sources, a man was walking his dog in the area, for the first time in a while, due to the snow, and the dog hit on the scent.
The man immediately called 911.
“The officers responded out and located a deceased individual that was in a shallow grave inside of a suitcase,” said Chief Todd.
When officers and homicide detectives got to the scene, Todd said they found the second body nearby.
According to the chief, both suitcases were partially buried in shallow graves. She said the victims had been there quite some time.
“It is traumatic for everyone. It is traumatic for those who live in the area to know that this was right there at their doorstep,” said Todd.
Authorities said one victim is believed to be 8-and-a-half to 13 years old and the other is believed to be 10-and-a-half to 14 years old.
“Locally, we have no reports of missing children to match these identifications. We are checking statewide as well. We have assistance from our state, federal and local partners,” said Todd.
Detectives are checking with state and federal partners as well.
This crime scene is located near Ginn Academy in the city’s South Collinwood neighborhood.
Police said the investigation remains in its very early stages and there is no indication of an ongoing threat to public safety.
If anyone has any information, they are asked to call the Cleveland Police Homicide Unit at 216-623-5464.
Tips can remain anonymous.
Copyright 2026 WOIO. All rights reserved.
Cleveland, OH
Bodies of 2 young girls found in suitcases in Cleveland’s South Collinwood neighborhood
CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – Cleveland Police Chief Dorothy Todd on Tuesday confirmed the bodies of two young girls were found in suitcases on the city’s East Side Monday evening.
Cleveland police were called just after 6 p.m. to a field in the area of East 163rd and Midland Avenue for a suspected dead body.
According to police sources, a man was walking his dog in the area, for the first time in awhile due to the snow, and the dog hit on the scent.
The man immediately called 911.
“The officers responded out and located a deceased individual that was in a shallow grave inside of a suitcase,” said Chief Todd.
When officers and homicide detectives got to the scene, Todd said they found the second body nearby.
According to the chief, both suitcases were partially buried in shallow graves. She said the victims had been there quite some time.
“It is traumatic for everyone. It is traumatic for those who live in the area to know that this was right there at their door step,” said Todd.
Authorities said one victim is believed to be 8-and-a-half to 13 years old and the other is believed to be 10-and-a-half to 14 years old.
There is no indication at this time on their identities, according to police.
“locally we have no reports of missing children to match these identifications. We are checking statewide as well. We have assistance from our state federal and local partners,” said Todd.
Detectives are checking with state and federal partners as well.
The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner has taken custody of the bodies and will conduct further examination to determine the cause of death.
This crime scene is located near Ginn Academy in the city’s South Collinwood neighborhood.
Police said the investigation remains in its very early stages and there is no indication of an ongoing threat to public safety.
If anyone has any information, they are asked to call the Cleveland Police Homicide Unit at 216-623-5464.
Tips can remain anonymous.
Copyright 2026 WOIO. All rights reserved.
CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – Thousands of FirstEnergy customers are without power in Cuyahoga County this Tuesday.
The total number reached 31,785 reported outages in Cuyahoga County at noon.
That number decreased to 16,486 as of 1:10 p.m.
There were just 2,751 still without power less than an hour later at 2 p.m.
FirstEnergy estimates power to be restored to most impacted customers between 2-4 p.m. Tuesday.
FirstEnergy spokesperson Brooke Conlan said this is due to small fires on poles.
According to Conlan, the misty rain combined with salt on the road can cause contamination on utility poles, which causes electricity to travel across the the pole and cause the fire.
Conlan added their crews are working as quickly as possible to restore power.
Due to the outages, the Parma Justice Center is closed, and all court proceedings are suspended for the remainder of Tuesday.
Copyright 2026 WOIO. All rights reserved.
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