A critical game 3 awaits as the Cleveland Guardians will take on the New York Yankees in the American League Championship Series on Thursday.
The Guardians lost game 2 on Tuesday and fell to a 2-0 series deficit before returning home to Cleveland for game 3.
Matthew Boyd will take the mound for the Guardians to face Clarke Schmidt of the Yankees.
Guardians’ President of Baseball Operations Chris Antonetti gave his thoughts on Boyd before his most important start of the season.
“We’re confident Matt can give us some length today and hopefully find a way to turn it over to the bullpen with a lead,” Antonetti said.
The #Guardians are looking to gain their first win in this #ALCS series tonight.
President of Baseball Operations Chris Antonetti details the pitching game-plan:#Postseason | #ForTheLand
🔗 https://t.co/iXax8hxC8m pic.twitter.com/rbpBu9r0FH— MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM (@MLBNetworkRadio) October 17, 2024
Guardians’ starting pitchers have been pulled early in both games this series.
Alex Cobb was pulled after 2.2 innings pitched in game 1 and Tanner Bibee was pulled after 1.1 innings pitched in game 2.
Boyd only started 8 games during the regular season and had a record of 2 wins and 2 losses with a 2.72 earned run average and 46 strikeouts in 39.2 innings pitched.
The postseason numbers for Boyd are outstanding thus far however as he started 2 games against the Tigers in the American League Division Series.
In those 2 starts, he pitched 6.2 innings and allowed 5 hits, 0 earned runs, 3 walks, and struck out 10.
Boyd only averaged 3.1 innings pitched per start in the ALDS, but the Guardians will be looking for some length out of him on Thursday.
This powerful Yankees lineup will be a challenge for Boyd, but he has been playing some of his best baseball since the postseason began.
Game 4 will take place on Friday, and the Guardians hope to enter that game with a 2-1 series.
NEXT: Chris Russo Reveals His Worry About Guardians In ALCS
