When is Yankees vs. Guardians ALCS Game 3? Date, time and statements

NEW YORK – Advantage, Yankees. After winning the first two home games of the ALCS against the Guardians, this series heads to Cleveland, where the Yankees are in complete control.

Two wins stand between the Yankees and their first World Series appearance since 2009, too long a drought for an organization that has won 27 of them, but they know the Guardians are a better team than what we had in the first saw both games.

“Guys are excited, but we still know there’s a lot of work ahead of us,” said Aaron Judge, who hit his first home run of this postseason in the Yankees’ 6-3 win on Tuesday. “We’re playing a good Cleveland team that has struggled all year, had some tough games, went through a tough series where Detroit went all the way to Game 5 and came out the other side. So there is still a lot to do. So we’re excited. The guys there are focused. You are prepared. They know what to do and are on their way to Cleveland.”

Tuesday night’s loss in Game 2 felt like the Guardians could turn in their favor when the Yankees let them hang around in the middle innings, but Cleveland left the bases loaded in consecutive innings. The Guardians won’t outscore the Yankees, who led baseball with 237 home runs this season, but they will need to hit the big time at the right moment.

However, Guardians manager Stephen Vogt sees no need for major changes. He just wants to see the same club that won 92 games this season.

“Be us. Keep doing what we’re doing,” Vogt said. “We had traffic all night tonight. We do what we do. We get on base and make things happen. We just didn’t have much success with the runners in scoring position tonight. We are one shot away from taking the lead in this game. We’re one shot away from being right back in it. This is us. We don’t give up. We just have to be ourselves.”

It will be a steep hill for the Guardians to climb, but their first goal is to bring the ALCS back to New York.

When does the game take place and how can I watch it?
Game 3 of the American League Championship Series will be played on Thursday at 5:08 p.m. ET at Progressive Field in Cleveland. It can be seen on TBS, truTV and Max.

All games are available in the US on MLB.TV (requires authentication with a participating pay-TV provider). Live games are also available in select countries outside the US. Detailed information can be found here.

Who are the starting pitchers?
Yankees: Clarke Schmidt will make his second start this postseason after throwing 4 2/3 innings of two-run ball with no decision in Game 3 of the ALDS in Kansas City. Schmidt’s first two playoff appearances came in the 2022 ALDS against Cleveland, when he pitched a scoreless inning in Game 2 but was charged with a blown save and a loss in Game 3. On April 13 of that season, he picked up a win against Cleveland, allowing two runs (one earned) over five innings.

Guardian: Matthew Boyd, the Guardians’ second-best starter in the ALDS, gets the ball at halftime. The left-hander made six career starts against the Yankees and owned a 5.17 ERA with seven homers, 16 walks and 29 strikeouts in 31 1/3 innings. Starting Game 5 against the Tigers in the ALDS, Boyd allowed just one hit in two frames. Previously, he had conceded just four goals in 4 2/3 scoreless frames in Game 2. Can he maintain his scoreless streak when the Guardians need pitching the most?

What are the starting lineups?
Yankees: With a left-hander on the mound for Cleveland, Giancarlo Stanton moved to the mopup spot and Jose Trevino will be behind the plate in place of Austin Wells, who has caught all six playoff games so far and has struggled offensively. Anthony Rizzo was also subbed in favor of right winger Jon Berti, who will be making his first ALCS start. Berti had never played first base in the majors until he started there in ALDS Game 2 against the Royals.

Guardian: With catcher Bo Naylor struggling badly this postseason – he’s 0-for-14 with four strikeouts in seven games – defense-first catcher Austin Hedges received the call-up for Game 3. Daniel Schneemann, who will start in right field and as Batting sixth, enters the postseason tonight with just one plate appearance.

How will the bullpens line up after the starter?
Yankees: Wednesday’s day off provides valuable rest for the bullpen, particularly Clay Holmes and Luke Weaver, who each appeared in the club’s first six postseason games. There is some discussion that Boone might want to take some of the pressure off of Holmes and Weaver (a Game 3 appearance would mean three appearances in four days, with Game 4 and possibly Game 5 to follow), but it’s the playoffs, so expect the Yankees to try , win Game 3 and later worry about the next day.

Guardian: Cleveland can be thankful for the day of rest Wednesday after having to put seven substitutes on the mound in Game 2 following the quick exit of Tanner Bibee. This bullpen has been the backbone of the Guardians’ roster all season, and it must continue to be that way if this team wants to advance to the World Series. However, for everything to go perfectly, the Guardians’ starters will need to get more innings than they have in the last three games, allowing the Big Four to do all the heavy lifting in relief. If Cade Smith, Tim Herrin, Hunter Gaddis and Emmanuel Clase are the only ones getting the ball, the chances of New York scoring in the late innings decrease.

Any notable injuries?
Yankees: Left-hander Nestor Cortes (left elbow flexor strain) is expected to face batters later this week, which would make him a consideration for a potential World Series roster. Infielder DJ LeMahieu (right hip impingement) is also trying to be an option, and Boone noted he’s been moving better lately. Neither was close to making the ALCS roster.

Guardian: Game 1 starter Alex Cobb was diagnosed with a lower back strain, which led to him being left off the ALCS roster on Tuesday. He was replaced by Ben Lively. Infielder/outfielder Tyler Freeman suffered a strained muscle during a practice this week and was left off the ALDS roster and removed from the ALCS roster.

Who’s hot and who’s not?
Yankees: Soto’s reputation as an on-base machine has carried over into the playoffs, where he is 7-for-20 (.350) with two runs scored, a double, a homer, three RBIs and five walks. Volpe hit the ball well, better than his numbers (5-of-18, .278) might at first suggest. Stanton had a quiet ALCS Game 2, but he was an October monster (7 for 23, .304, 2 HR). Chisholm is 3-of-23 (.130) in the playoffs.

Guardian: No matter how much this offense struggles to find the timely hit, it hasn’t lost its spark plug with Steven Kwan at the top of the rankings. Kwan extended his postseason hitting streak to 12 games, dating back to Game 1 of the 2022 ALDS, which is the longest such streak in Cleveland history. The longest playoff hitting streak by an American League player was Michael Brantley in the 2020-21 season (16 games). In seven games this postseason, Kwan is hitting .488.

Is there anything else fans would like to know?