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.
ERIE COUNTY, Ohio (WOIO) – Ohio troopers said a 13-year-old boy died Thursday from injuries stemming from an ATV crash on Sunday afternoon.
The highway patrol has identified the victim as Lamonie Campbell from Cleveland.
The crash, which also hurt a 10-year-old boy, took place around 1:45 p.m. in the eastbound lane of State Route 113 in Milan Township.
The 10-year-old was operating an ATV, with Campbell as the passenger, when the crash happened.
A Toyota, operated by a Berlin Heights man, struck the ATV as it entered State Route 113 from a private drive, troopers said.
According to the highway patrol, the ATV caught fire as a result of the crash, which also sent the Toyota off the roadway before it rolled and struck a pole.
First responders first took the boys to Fisher-Titus Medical Center for treatment.
Troopers said the 13-year-old was later flown by medical helicopter to a Cleveland hospital.
There’s no update at this time on the 10-year-old’s condition.
State Route 113 was closed for approximately one hour and 50 minutes.
The highway patrol will continue to investigate the crash.
Copyright 2026 WOIO. All rights reserved.
Cleveland, OH
Colt Emerson Leads Mariners Past Guardians In Return to Ohio – WHIZ – Fox 5 / Marquee Broadcasting
CLEVELAND, OH – Some three years ago, Colt Emerson was tearing it up in the Muskingum Valley League for John Glenn, on his way to being named the Gatorade Player of the Year, right here in Ohio. Now, fast forward to 2026, he returns home for the first time as a pro, as the Mariners faced the Guardians in a true homecoming for Emerson.
“Being here is special. A lot of games growing up, coming here. So it’s going to be pretty surreal” said Emerson before game one of the series in Cleveland. “I love the game, you know? I respect the game, and I’m just so grateful to be here.”
Growing up a lifelong baseball fan in Ohio, Colt always knew this day would come, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have to pinc himself every now and again when he puts on the Mariners jersey.
Emerson continued, “If ten-year old me can see me sitting here, see me on the field, that’s the only thing that matters. It’s been a fun journey.”
The game started slowly for Seattle, with no runs or even hits to talk about, at least until Emerson took the plate in the third. With one swing of the bat on an inside change up from left handed pitcher Joey Cantillo, he sent one into the right field seats for a home run in his first at bat back in his home state.
“I can’t even describe it” said Emerson, with a broad grin across his face after the game. “When I saw it go out, I took my time around the bases, just to look around, you know? You grew up playing here, and your first at bat, you hit a home run. It’s cool.”
Colt had quite the efficient ball game, reaching base three times with two walks, and accounting for two of the Mariners’ runs in the three to one victory. It is his first career multi-walk, and multi-run game in the major leagues.
Emerson continues to amaze his manager, Dan Wilson, each and every game.
“Like we’ve said before, he just sees the game and he senses the game and knows what to do in the right situation, and tonight was another example of that” said Wilson.
It’s another memorable moment in the remarkable rookie career of one of John Glenn High School’s finest, as Emerson continues to provide a much-needed spark for Seattle.
The Mariners are in Cleveland for two more games this weekend before heading back on Sunday night.
CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – Heinen’s Grocery Store announced on Friday that it will be closing its downtown Cleveland location on the corner of East 9th Street and Euclid Avenue.
This last day will be on July 31.
The store first opened in 2015.
All associates at the downtown store will be offered roles at other Heinen’s locations, and there will be no layoffs, the release said. This decision affects only the Downtown Cleveland location.
Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb shared the following statement after the announcement was released:
This is a developing story. Return to 19 News for updates.
Copyright 2026 WOIO. All rights reserved.
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