The New York Yankees will face the Cleveland Guardians in Game 4 of the American League Championship Series on Friday, October 18, 2024 (10/18/24) at Progressive Field in Cleveland, Ohio.

Luis Gil will start for the Yankees and Gavin Williams for the Guardians in Game 4 of the best-of-seven series. The Yankees lead 2-1.

How to watch: Fans can watch DirecTV Stream with a FREE trial

Here's what you need to know:

What: ALCS Game 4

Who: New York Yankees vs. Cleveland Guardians

When: Oct. 18, 2024

Time: 8:00 p.m. ET (7:00 p.m. CT)

Where: Progressive Field

TV: TBS

Free live stream: DirecTV stream

Here's a recent MLB story from the AP:

NEW YORK (AP) — “Big Spender” is the theme music for baseball’s Final Four.

The New York Mets, New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers feature the sport's top three in the League Championship Series, followed by Cleveland at No. 23.

“You have to scratch and scratch and match up and make moves and make shots and hope it works,” Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said. “While most of the other three teams set their lineup and go play.”

The Mets-Dodgers National League Championship Series starting Sunday and the Yankees-Guardians American League matchup starting Monday feature some of baseball's biggest stars in Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Aaron Judge, Juan Soto, Francisco Lindor and Pete Alonso. Cleveland has the best closer in Emmanuel Clase and a top hitter in José Ramírez.

Playoff matchups bring to the fore the question of whether spending equals success.

“If you spend more, obviously you have a better chance – you bring more players,” Mets reliever Adam Ottavino said. “But obviously it didn’t always work out that way.”

The Mets have the highest payroll at $332 million, followed by the Yankees at $311 million and the Dodgers at $266 million, according to Major League Baseball's latest projections (final numbers won't be calculated until the winter, after all bonuses have been determined). The Guardians are worth $109 million.

“I’m not thinking about payroll,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “I think about our 26 guys and beating the Mets. This is it.”

Texas was in sixth place last year with $241 million on payroll when it won the World Series against Arizona, which was 20th with $129 million.

The only top earners to win titles since the current luxury tax began were the Dodgers in 2020, the Red Sox in 2018 and the Yankees in 2009. Boston has won twice with a top-three payroll, being the second-largest spender in 2004 and 2007 and as the third highest in 2013.

Seven of the last 21 champions had payrolls outside the top 10: the 2021 Braves (14th), 2017 Astros (18th), 2015 Royals (13th), 2011 Cardinals (11th), 2010 Giants (11th), 2005 White Sox (13th). ) and 2003 Marlins (20th).

“When it comes to payroll, it ultimately comes down to playing good baseball,” said San Diego manager Mike Shildt, whose team finished 15th and lost to Los Angeles in a five-game Division Series.

The Dodgers and Mets will meet in the postseason for the fourth time, after LA won the 1988 NLCS and New York won the NLDS in 2006 and '15. The 1988 game was marked by the ejection of Dodgers pitcher Jay Howell in Game 3 for having pine tar on his glove, and the 2015 NLDS was marred by Dodgers shortstop Ruben Tejada's Chase Utley breaking a leg trying to end a double play. MLB responded by banning rolling body blocks before the 2016 season.

After the Mets won two of three games at Dodger Stadium this April, Los Angeles beat New York at Citi Field in late May, setting up a players-only matchup that turned New York around after a 22-33 start .

Jack Flaherty starts for the Dodgers and Kodai Senga for the Mets, only his third appearance in an injury-riddled season. Sean Manaea pitches Game 2 for New York, which earned three days off by defeating Philadelphia in a four-game Division Series.

Dodgers All-Star first baseman Freddie Freeman, playing with a sprained right ankle, was 4 of 14 with no RBIs in the NLDS.

Cleveland and the Yankees are playing in the postseason for the seventh time. Cleveland won the 1997 and 2007 Division Series and lost the 1998 ALCS, the 2017 and 2022 Division Series, and the 2020 Wild Card Round. The Yankees were four outs away from advancing in 1997 before Sandy Alomar scored the equalizer off Mariano Rivera in Game 4 The Indians won the series in five games, knocking out New York, which had won the title in 1996 and won three more titles from 1998 to 2000.

Two years ago, Cleveland's Josh Naylor angered Yankees fans with his overwhelming celebration of a home run off Gerrit Cole in Game 4.

New York won two of three games in Cleveland in April and also at home in August. After beating Kansas City in a four-game ALDS, the Yankees could go with Carlos Rodón in the opener and Cole in Game 2. Cleveland, which beat Detroit in Game 5 on Saturday, could bet on Alex Cobb in Game 1.

“Obviously a great bullpen,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “Sporty. They defend really well. They're pretty balanced in attack.”

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