Wed Oct 16 09:30:00 UTC 2024: ## Yankees Take Control in ALCS, Head to Cleveland with 2-0 Lead

**CLEVELAND, OH -** The New York Yankees are one step closer to their first World Series appearance since 2009 after taking the first two games of the American League Championship Series against the Cleveland Guardians.

Despite the dominant performance, Yankees manager Aaron Boone isn’t taking the Guardians lightly. “Guys are excited, but we still know there’s a lot of work to be done,” Boone said, emphasizing the team’s respect for Cleveland’s resilience throughout the season.

The Guardians, who have struggled to generate offense against the Yankee pitching staff, are looking for a spark to ignite their bats. “We just didn’t get a big hit with runners in scoring position tonight,” said Guardians manager Stephen Vogt. “We’re one swing of the bat away from being right back in it.”

Game 3 will be a crucial test for the Guardians as they attempt to climb back into the series.

**Game 3 Details:**

* **Date:** Thursday, October 26th
* **Time:** 5:08 p.m. ET
* **Location:** Progressive Field, Cleveland, Ohio
* **TV:** TBS, truTV, and Max
* **Starting Pitchers:** Clarke Schmidt (NYY) vs. Matthew Boyd (CLE)

**Key Matchups:**

* **Yankees Lineup:** The Yankees will be looking to capitalize on Cleveland’s pitching struggles, with Aaron Judge leading the charge after launching his first home run of the postseason in Game 2.
* **Guardians Lineup:** Steven Kwan continues to be a bright spot for Cleveland, extending his playoff hitting streak to 12 games.
* **Bullpens:** Both teams will rely heavily on their bullpens. The Yankees have a well-rested bullpen, while the Guardians will need to manage their arms carefully after a busy Game 2.

The Guardians will need to find a way to overcome their offensive struggles and capitalize on any opportunity to even the series, while the Yankees are looking to close out the series in Cleveland and head back to New York for a potential series-clinching Game 5.

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