The LDS round has blessed us with a do-or-die Game 5 in the 2022 MLB postseason. The Yankees and Guardians were originally scheduled to meet Monday night in Game 5, but rain pushed the decider to Tuesday afternoon — the same day the NLCS begins and the day before one of these two teams faces the Astros in the ALCS.
Click here for the full season scheduleAnd Here’s the 2022 playoff bracket. Now, let’s get to the important stuff for Game 5.
How to see
Date: Tuesday, October 18 | Time: 4:07 pm ET
Place: Yankee Stadium (The Bronx, New York)
Television frequency: TBS, MLB Network (Spanish broadcast) | Live broadcast: TBS Application, fuboTV (try it for free)
Contradictions: TBD (via Caesars Sportsbook)
Starters: NYY: Nestor Cortez (12-4, 2.44), CLE: TBD
Special game | New York Yankees vs. Cleveland Guardians
Preview
First, let’s point out how well played and competitive these games were. The Yankees scored 15 runs to the Guardians’ 13. One game went to extra innings. The big difference was the Yankees’ three-run Game 1 win, not a blowout. Expect more drama here, late innings and possibly extras.
Had Game 5 gone down as planned on Monday night, the Yankees would have started Jameson Taillon. Now that it has been pushed back a day, they will turn to Nestor Cortes instead. Cortez started Game 2 of the series, and he allowed two runs with three strikeouts and three walks in five innings of work. During the regular season, the All-Star lefty faced the Guardians twice and won with a 2.19 ERA and .393 OPS.
Klay Holmes threw in Game 4 and will take a day off Monday night because it was rained out. Also, Vandy Peralta has played in all four games in this series. Jonathan Loaisiga and Lucas Luetge could be factors.
The Guardians originally planned to counter Aaron Sivale, and it appears that Terry Francona may stick with that plan even in light of the postponement. He said he could switch talent and give ace Shane Bieber (who started Game 2 on Friday against Cortez) a nod. Sivale had opposing lineups of .200/.244/.394 for the first time through the order this year. Then, the Guardians are loaded with three top setup men — Trevor Stephen, Sam Hentges and James Karinchak — who are all well-rested. None of them pitched in Game 4, and only Hentges went in Game 3. Closer Emmanuel Klaas went 2 1/3 innings in Game 2 and didn’t pitch after that. If a starter gets through three innings, it’s entirely possible that all four of these pitchers can finish the game.
Prediction
The defenders are pretty well set up by the pitching and I don’t trust the Yankees’ pitchers. Another soul-crushing loss for the Yankees late in the innings.
Selection: Guardians 5, Yankees 4
