The Yankees have a chance to take a 2-0 lead in their ALCS matchup against the Guardians, and they have their ace Gerrit Cole on the mound to ensure they have the best chance of doing so. Cole will be supported by the same lineup that got the job done in Game 1:

2B Gleyber Torres
RF Juan Soto
CF Aaron Richter
C Austin Wells
DH Giancarlo Stanton
3B Jazz Chisholm Jr.
SS Anthony Volpe
1B Anthony Rizzo
LF Alex Verdugo

Juan Soto led off the season with his first home run as a Yankee in the third inning and will look to build on that and start a hot streak. Speaking of hot streaks, no one is more dangerous at the plate this month than Giancarlo Stanton, who hit his second home run of the playoffs in Game 7 to lift the Yankees' score. Stanton is now batting .278 with 13 home runs and a 1.009 OPS in his postseason career, all in pinstripes. Give Big G's name some respect.

Anthony Rizzo made his postseason debut yesterday, sliding back into first base with a walk after a 1-for-3 night. Rizzo left the game after the eighth inning as manager Aaron Boone said he noticed the first baseman was physically and mentally exhausted, but overall it was a solid return from his broken wrist injury. Expect him to do the lion's share of the first-team work in the future.

Another highlight was the performance of Gleyber Torres at the front. Torres jumped to first pitch again and hit a hit into the outfield to start the game, just like he did in Game 4 of the ALDS. This time he didn't score, but later touched home base after a walk in the fourth inning. He does his job to cover the table for the top scorers in the lineup, and the Yankees take advantage of that to take some early leads.