The Yankees are four wins away from the World Series, they also know which team’s standing in their way.
Thanks to home runs from Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge, the Yankees eliminated the Cleveland Guardians, 5-1 in the decisive Game 5 of the AL Division Series on Tuesday night at Yankee Stadium.
Nestor Cortes, starting on short rest, delivered five innings of three-hit ball, surrendering just one run.
The stage is now set for another AL Championship series matchup with the Houston Astros.
Of the four 100-win teams to make the postseason, the Astros are the last team standing.
This is the third time since 2017 that the Astros and Yankees have met in the ALCS, with Houston winning both previous series.
“Everybody knows, we know, the whole world knows what kind of an Astros team they are,” Cortes said. “They run well. They hit well. They pitch well. They are a complete team. And I like to say that we are too.”
What everybody also knows, is the Astros have had the Yankees number. In recent years, it’s been on speed dial.
In the regular season, the Yankees and Astros met seven times. Houston won five of those matchups, including all three at Minute Maid Park – the sight of Games 1 and 2 of the best-of-seven ALCS series, starting Wednesday night.
Before the Yankees could get to this long-expected showdown, they first had to put away a feisty Cleveland Guardians ballclub.
The Guardians, led by veteran manager Terry Francona, are the youngest team in MLB. However, don’t let their youth – or MLB-lowest $68 million payroll – distract from how formidable an opponent they proved to be.
The AL Central division champions led this series 2-1, before the Yankees battled back.
“I know they are hurting right now,” Francona said. “This needs to be a starting place for us. This can’t just be a good story this year. We need to take this and go, because I think we have a chance to have something special.”
While the Guardians head home for the winter, the Yankees enjoyed some quick celebratory time before heading to Houston for Game 1. The quick turnaround doesn’t help them, but there’s no time for excuses.
All roads to the World Series for the American League still go through Houston.
Anthony Rushing is on Twitter @TonyRushingNY
Baseline Sports NY is on Twitter @Baseline_NY
