After two compelling rounds, the American League playoff bracket is down to its final match-up. It’s a classic battle between one team that always expected to be there and another that began this season with a new manager and plenty of questions. But during the season itself, these two teams were the AL’s elite squads, finishing with the first- and second-best records.
Will the New York Yankees make their return to the World Series for the first time since 2009? Can the Cleveland Guardians punch their ticket to the Fall Classic for the first time since 2016? Will Aaron Judge break out of his postseason slump? Will the Guardians find enough starting pitching to get the ball to their bullpen with an advantage? Our experts look deep into their crystal balls for the answers.
Note: Playoff seed in brackets.
Cleveland Guardians (2) vs. New York Yankees (1)
| Team | Percent of votes |
|---|---|
 New York Yankees |
76.90%
|
 Cleveland Guardians |
23.10%
|
Kaitlyn McGrath (Yankees): The Guardians have a spectacular bullpen, and they rode it to their ALDS win. But I’m concerned about their ability to score consistently. They were blanked twice in the five-game series against the Tigers. The Yankees have more firepower in their lineup, and one would expect Aaron Judge to get hot at some point this postseason, which could be enough to carry the Yankees to the World Series.
Sam Blum (Guardians): I picked the Guardians to win it all, so I can’t go against that now. But honestly, it would be more fun to get a Subway Series in the World Series.
Chad Jennings (Yankees): Aaron Judge is going to go off eventually, right? And Gerrit Cole threw his dud in the Division Series, so he surely won’t do that again. Am I insane for suddenly thinking the Yankees have a bullpen based on four games against a thin Royals lineup? Even if I’m wrong about all of that, I’m still not sure how much longer the Guardians can keep white-knuckling it while asking their bullpen to pitch five or six innings every night.
C. Trent Rosecrans (Guardians): Neither team looks exactly like a Goliath going in, especially with the two offensive superstars — the Yankees’ Aaron Judge and the Guardians’ José Ramírez — not living up to their billing leading up to this point. The Guardians have the right-handed pitching out of the bullpen and the left-handed bats to match up with New York. It may not go seven games, but I expect each game to be taut and the Guardians pulling it out with just enough offense and a bullpen stretched to the limit, but not breaking.
Keith Law (Yankees): Hard to believe the Yankees might have the best/healthiest rotation of the remaining playoff teams, but that’s how it looks, and Cleveland’s ALDS win also showed the limitations of their offense. I’m slightly concerned about how Cleveland’s bullpen will hold up after some heavy use in that series, too.
Stephen Nesbitt (Yankees): There is no disputing the Guardians have the best bullpen in the American League, yet in the ALDS it was Yankees relievers tossing 15 2/3 scoreless innings while the Guardians bullpen allowed nine runs in 25 2/3 innings. Small sample, surely, but the underlying point is that even in the one area in which the Guardians hold a distinct advantage, the Yankees have found a late-game formula that shrinks the gap between these two bullpens. The Guardians pitching staff flirted with disaster frequently in the ALDS, yet the Tigers lineup was, especially late in the series, unable to capitalize with runners in scoring position. The Yankees are far better equipped to make you pay for traffic on the bases.
Fabian Ardaya (Yankees): For as good as Cleveland’s bullpen has been this season, the “multiple looks” penalty adds up over the course of a best-of-seven series. Aaron Judge’s quiet postseason spell is due for some positive regression, Juan Soto will have a moment and Giancarlo Stanton just won’t stop hitting big postseason home runs. The Yankees boast a better rotation on paper and can hit the ball out of the ballpark.
Patrick Mooney (Yankees): The big-money players — Cole, Judge, Soto, Stanton — have to produce.
Chandler Rome (Yankees): Big fan of ferocious jungle cats. Since the Yankees added one, they seem far more comfortable in the sort of close games Cleveland always tends to play. The Yankees are the more complete team and are still awaiting Aaron Judge’s arrival in October. That they’ve won without him making a meaningful impact should scare the Guardians.
Sahadev Sharma (Yankees): Aaron Judge shakes off his postseason struggles and carries them to the World Series.
Andy McCullough (Yankees): The October version of Giancarlo Stanton helps compensate for the October version of Aaron Judge.
(Photo of Juan Soto sliding into second as Andrés Giménez makes the throw: Jason Miller / Getty Images)
