BREAKING NEWS: MLB Playoff Bracket 2024 Is Set with Early ALCS Odds, TV Schedule, and Predictions That Will Shape the October Drama .giang

The top two teams in the American League will square off in the ALCS.

The Cleveland Guardians confirmed their matchup with the New York Yankees in Saturday’s series-clinching ALDS Game 5.

Cleveland and New York are the second pair of top seeds to meet in the ALCS in the last three years. That is the opposite of the chaos that has ensued in the NL during the wild-card format that began in 2022. The Los Angeles Dodgers are the first top-two seed to feature in the NLCS in that span.

The Yankees are the clear favorite in the matchup because of their superior starting pitching and superstar lineup.

However, getting back to the World Series has been a struggle for the Yankees lately. They lost their last five ALCS appearances dating back to 2010.

Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook.

To Win Series

New York Yankees (-215; bet $215 to win $100)

Cleveland (+160; bet $100 to win $160)

ALCS Schedule

Game 1: Monday, October 14 at New York (7:38 p.m. ET, TBS)

Game 2: Tuesday, October 15 at New York (7:38 p.m. ET, TBS)

Game 3: Thursday, October 17 at Cleveland (Time TBD, TBS)

Game 4: Friday, October 18 at Cleveland (Time TBD, TBS)

Game 5: Saturday, October 19 at Cleveland (Time TBD, TBS)

Game 6: Monday, October 21 at New York (Time TBD, TBS)

Game 7: Tuesday, October 22 at New York (Time TBD, TBS)

Everything on paper shapes up for the Yankees to push into the World Series for the first time since 2009.

The rotation is frontloaded with Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodon, Giancarlo Stanton is leading an offense that also contains Juan Soto and Aaron Judge and the Houston Astros are nowhere in sight.

Houston has been New York’s nemesis in the Yankees’ last three trips to the ALCS in 2017, 2019 and 2022.

Additionally, the Yankees went 4-2 in the regular season against the Guardians and held the AL Central winner to two or fewer runs in all four of those victories.

The pitching situation is aligned in the Yankees favor with Carlos Rodon expected to pitch in Game 1 and Gerrit Cole ready to go on full rest for Game 2.

Luis Gil and Clarke Schmidt are available to the fill gaps in Games 3 and 4. Schmidt tossed 4.2 solid innings in Game 3 of the ALDS against the Kansas City Royals.

The addition of some hits from Aaron Judge could make the Yankees even more dangerous at the plate.

Stanton and Soto combined for 10 hits and six RBIs in four games against the Royals.

Of course, the Yankees also have all of the pressure in the world on them to win. As long as they can deal with that, they should put away the Guardians.

The AL Central winner has a path to victory as well.

The Guardians were the second-best team in the AL this season for a reason, and they will come into Monday’s ALCS opener with plenty of confidence after finally solving Tarik Skubal.

The top end of the lineup is strong. Steven Kwan went 11-for-21 against the Tigers and the power duo of Jose Ramirez and Josh Naylor can take advantage of the short porch in Yankee Stadium’s right field.

Lane Thomas has turned in a key provider in the clutch as well with two vital home runs against Detroit, including the one that broke Game 5 open against Skubal.

However, the bottom half of the order and the starting pitching are at a disadvantage compared to the Yankees.

Cleveland may have to put a ton of stress on its bullpen behind starters Tanner Bibee, Matt Boyd and Alex Cobb.

The bullpen was one of the best in baseball during the regular season, and if it holds up against the Yankees, the Guardians have a good chance to spoil New York’s party and end up back in the World Series for the first time since their last ALCS win in 2016.

The Yankees seem destined to make the World Series to set up a superstar showdown with either the Los Angeles Dodgers or their cross-town rival, the New York Mets.

New York holds the starting pitching advantage, which could be vital in the back end of the series if Cleveland’s bullpen is taxed.

Stanton and Soto provided plenty of power already, and at some point. Judge has to come alive in between them in the order.

Cleveland has a great tone-setter in Kwan, but Ramirez and Naylor were not as effective as they needed to be against Detroit.

The Guardians have a team composition to challenge the Yankees, but unless their stars meet the moment, they could fall short in a few games.

Prediction: Yankees over Guardians in six games.

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