GAME 4
Today in Cleveland, the Guardians will host the New York Yankees in Game 4 of the 2024 American League Championship Series…The Yankees lead the series 2-1, after taking Games 1 and 2 in New York and Cleveland won Game 3 last night.
- New York is looking to take a 3-1 lead in the series…Teams to take a 3-1 lead in a best-of-seven Postseason series have gone on to win the series 79 of 93 times(84.9%), including 37 of 45 times in the LCS (82.2%)
- Yankees are 9-7 all-time in ALCS Game 4’s… They went 7-1 in their first eight games between 1976-2001, but are 2-6 in ALCS Game 4 since 2003.
- Cleveland is looking to even up the series 2-2…Teams that win Game 4 to tie up a seven-game Postseason series at 2-2 have gone on to win the series 32 of 67 times (47.8%), including nine of 20 times in the LCS (45%).
- Guardians are 3-2 all-time in Game 4 of the ALCS, including a 3-1 record at home.
2024 AMERICAN LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES
- New York is playing in their 19th ALCS, which is the most League Championship Series appearances of any Major League team…This is the Yankees 14th ALCS in the best-of-seven format and fourth in the last eight years… Overall, the Yankees have won 11 of their previous 18 ALCS appearances, including seven of 13 in the best-of-seven format… NYY won 10 of first 11 ALCS appearances, but have lost six of last seven.
- Cleveland is competing in their sixth ALCS and first since 2016…All six ALCS appearances have come in the best-of-seven era… Cleveland has won three of their previous five ALCS appearances, with wins coming in 1995, 1997 & 2016 and losses in 1998 and 2007.
- This series is a rematch of the 1998 ALCS, which was won by the Yankees in six games… New York won Games 4-6 in that series after Cleveland took two of the first three contests.
TODAY’S STARTING PITCHERS
The Game 4 starting pitching match-up features, Cleveland’s Gavin Williams and New York’s Luis Gil, who are both making their Postseason debut.
- Tonight is the first LCS game where both starting pitchers are making their first career Postseason appearances since Game 4 of the 2006 NLCS: Oliver Perez (NYM) vs. Anthony Reyes (STL) and first such game in an ALCS since Game 3 of the 1993 ALCS: Pat Hentgen (TOR) vs. Wilson Alvarez (CWS).
- Williams is making his first appearance since Sept. 22 at St. Louis and is seeking his first winning decision at Progressive Field since Sept. 17, 2023 vs. Texas.
- Gil is making his first pitching appearance since Sept. 28 vs. Pittsburgh.
- He allowed one-or-fewer runs in 17 of his 29 starts, which were the fourth-most in a season in Yankees history.
STRENGTH VS. STRENGTH
During the 2024 regular season, the Guardians 50-30 home record was the best in the American League…The Yankees 50-31 road record was the best in the Majors.
YANKEES GAME 4 STARTING PITCHER:
RHP LUIS GIL
2024 POSTSEASON: First appearance tonight
2024 REGULAR SEASON: 15-7, 3.50 ERA
TONIGHT’S START: Making first career Postseason appearance tonight…First outing since Sept. 28 vs. Pittsburgh (L; 5.2 IP, 6 H, 6 ER, 1 BB, 5 SO).
2024 REGULAR SEASON: In first full Major League season, went 15-7 with a 3.50 ERA (151.2 IP – 59 ER) and 171 strikeouts across 29 starts…His 15 wins were tied for fifth-most in the American League…During an 11-game stretch from April 21 – June 14, went 9-0 with a 1.64 ERA (66 IP – 12 ER) and 76 strikeouts, with New York winning 10 of those 11 games…Finished the regular season going 6-2 with a 3.90 ERA (55.1 IP – 24 ER) in his final 11 starts… Overall, he allowed one-or-fewer runs in 17 of his 29 starts, which were the fourth-most in a season in Yankees history, behind 18 such games by Jack Chesbro (1904), Whitey Ford (1964) and Ron Guidry (1978)…He was the A.L. Pitcher of the Month and A.L. Rookie of the Month in May…His 171 strikeouts led all A.L. rookies in 2024 and were the second-most by a rookie in Yankees history behind 209 SO by Russ Ford in 1910.
VS. CLEVELAND: In two career regular season starts vs. Cleveland, is 0-1 with a 6.14 ERA (7.1 IP – 6 ER) and nine strikeouts…Earlier this season on Aug. 20 at Yankee Stadium, he took a no-decision in a start against the Guardians after working 3+ innings and allowing three earned runs on three hits with six walks and three strikeouts…His only other outing came on Sept. 18, 2021 at Yankee Stadium and suffered first loss of Major League career (4.1 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 4 BB, 6 SO).
AT PROGRESSIVE FIELD: Tonight is his first career appearance at Progressive Field.
GUARDIANS GAME 4 STARTING PITCHER:
RHP GAVIN WILLIAMS
2024 POSTSEASON: First appearance tonight
2024 REGULAR SEASON: 3-10, 4.86 ERA
TONIGHT’S START: Making first career Postseason appearance tonight…First outing since Sept. 22 at St. Louis (ND; 5.2 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 3 SO).
2024 REGULAR SEASON: In 16 starts for Cleveland, went 3-10 with a 4.86 ERA (76 IP – 41 ER) and 79 strikeouts…Began the season on the injured list with right elbow inflammation…Started a rehab assignment with Triple-A Columbus on May 30 and ultimately totaled six rehab starts between Columbus and Double-A Akron before making season debut with Guardians on July 3 vs. White Sox…Over his final three starts, he pitched to a 3.38 ERA (16 IP – 6 ER) with 15 strikeouts…Among pitchers with at least 10 starts in 2024, he had the lowest run support average (2.13 R/G) in the Majors; Guardians teammate Logan Allen had the highest in the Majors (8.41 R/G).
VS. NEW YORK (A.L.): Tonight marks second career appearance vs. Yankees…Only previous outing came in a start earlier this season at Yankee Stadium on Aug. 22 (L; 4.1 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 4 BB, 5 SO); held New York scoreless through the first three innings of the game.
AT PROGRESSIVE FIELD: In 17 career games at Progressive Field, is 3-10 with a 4.81 ERA (86 IP – 46 ER) and 95 strikeouts…This season, went 0-7 with a 6.55 ERA (33 IP – 24 ER) and 42 strikeouts at home, but was 3-3 with a 3.56 ERA (43 IP – 17 ER) on the road.
