Takeaways from Yankees-Guardians ALCS Game 1: New York capitalizes on Cleveland’s pitching meltdown

The New York Yankees look like a complete team at the perfect time. 

On Monday, New York took a 1-0 lead in the American League Championship Series, dominating the Cleveland Guardians en route to a 5-2 home win. The Yankees will have their ace Gerrit Cole on the mound for Tuesday’s Game 2 as they aim to build on their convincing victory. 

Here are three takeaways from Monday’s contest: 

Yankees left-hander Carlos Rodon delivers much-needed bounce-back performance

The two-time All-Star showed why he deserved the six-year, $162 million deal he signed with the Yankees in 2022.

During last week’s 4-2 ALDS Game 2 loss to the Kansas City Royals, Rodon saw what began as a stellar start unravel, allowing four runs on seven hits with seven strikeouts and a walk in 3.2 innings. However, the longtime Chicago White Sox starter saw his success against his former AL Central rival Cleveland continue on Monday, delivering arguably the best start of his Yankees tenure.

Rodon allowed just three hits and one run — by way of a Brayan Rocchio solo home run — in six innings while racking up nine strikeouts, a postseason career-high. The majority of Cleveland’s lineup simply couldn’t figure out Rodon, as evidenced by the 25 swings and misses he induced. As MLB.com’s Jason Catania points out, Rodon’s 25 whiffs are the most in a single playoff game in the pitch-tracking era (since 2008). 

While the Yankees are still seven wins away from their ultimate goal, as long as Rodon can maintain momentum, they should feel confident about their chances of winning championship No. 28. 

Guardians manager Stephen Vogt’s third-inning pitching change proves costly

The first-year manager Vogt has made plenty of rookie mistakes this postseason, though his worst move yet came in the third inning of Monday’s game. After starting pitcher Alex Cobb allowed a solo home run to outfielder Juan Soto and issued three walks to load the bases, Vogt called on rookie Joey Cantillo to get the final out of the inning.

Cantillo, who posted a 4.89 ERA across nine regular season games, was clearly overwhelmed by his nerves. The left-hander spiked the third pitch he threw, allowing outfielder Aaron Judge to score, before walking first baseman Anthony Rizzo to reload the bases. Cantillo went on to throw another wild pitch to his next batter, outfielder Alex Verdugo, which allowed DH Giancarlo Stanton to score another run before notching an inning-ending strikeout.

Even so, Cantillo’s struggles continued in the fourth inning, as he walked second baseman Gleyber Torres and Soto while throwing two more wild pitches in the process before being removed. 

According to The Athletic’s Tyler Kepner, Cantillo is just the second pitcher in postseason history to throw four wild pitches in an outing. Additionally, Cantillo is the only pitcher in the modern era with at least four wild pitches and three walks in an outing of less than an inning (regular season or postseason), per OptaSTATS. 

Even though Cantillo gave up the runs, he shouldn’t have been trusted in the bases-loaded situation, given his inexperience.

The elite Guardians bullpen was taxed after playing five games against the Detroit Tigers in the ALDS, but Vogt should’ve gone with a more reliable arm in that spot. Among the options Vogt could’ve chosen from, LHP Tim Herrin or RHP Pedro Avila, who pitched 2.2 scoreless innings Monday, would’ve made more sense. 

Stanton and closer Luke Weaver are proving to be X-factors for New York

If the Yankees ultimately capture their first World Series title since 2009, chances are Stanton and Weaver will be two of the main reasons why.

Stanton, who posted the third-lowest OPS of his career during the regular season (.773), continues to turn back the clock this postseason. The former NL MVP finished 1-for-3 at the plate with one homer and a walk while scoring two runs on Monday. Overall, Stanton has produced a slash line of .368/.455/.789 with two home runs and five RBI this October.

Meanwhile, Weaver, a failed starting pitcher, has been a revelation since being named New York’s closer in September despite never having assumed that role in his career. The right-hander was called on for a five-out save against Cleveland and was brilliant, striking out four batters while allowing one walk.

So far this postseason, Weaver has notched four saves, only allowing two hits and no runs in six innings while striking out nine batters. As per Sarah Langs of MLB.com, Weaver is the third pitcher with three saves of more than three outs in his team’s first five games of postseason run, joining Mariano Rivera (2000) and Rich Gossage (1981).