It's NEW YORK vs CLEVELAND

by Paul Semendinger

October 9, 2022

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Well, we now know the opponent the Yankees will be facing. We have have plenty of coverage in the two days between now and Tuesday when the playoffs for the Yankees begin.

Until then, I dug up some random trivia, stats, and such:

• New York and Cleveland have had teams in the American League since the league began in 1903.

• The the history of the American League, the Indians enjoyed a better record than the Highlanders/Yankees in the following seasons: 1903, 1905, 1907, 1908, 1911, 1912, 1913, 1917, 1918, 1919, 1920, 1925... 1940, 1948, 1954, 1959... 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968.

• Division Play began in 1969. The Indians were initially in the A.L. East. They finished ahead of the Yankees in the following seasons: 1990 and 1992.

• In 1994, the Indians were moved to the newly created American League Central Division. Since then the Yankees have met the Indians in the post season in the following seasons:

  • 1997 (Cleveland won ALDS 3-2)

  • 1998 (Yankees won ALCS 4-2)

  • 2007 (Cleveland won ALDS 3-1)

  • 2017 (Yankees won ALDS 3-2)

  • 2020 (Yankees won ALWCS 2-0)

• The Yankees' all-time record vs Cleveland is 1,148-907 (.559)

  • At home, the Yankees are 624-402 (.608)

  • Away, the Yankees are 524-505 (.509)

  • In the post season, the Yankees are 12-10 vs Cleveland (.545)

• In 2022, the Yankees are 5-1 vs the Guardians (3-0 at home, 2-1 in Cleveland)

• Great/Very Good Yankees who were acquired from the Indians include:

  • Roger Peckinpaugh (1913)

  • Monte Pearson (1935)

  • Allie Reynolds (1946)

  • Graig Nettles (1972)

  • Chris Chambliss (1974)

  • David Justice (2000)

• The Yankees are 2-0 vs Cleveland on October 11 (winning in 1998 and 2017)

• 2022 Guardians' Top 5 Position Players by bWAR:

  1. Andres Giminez - 7.2

  2. Jose Ramirez - 6.0

  3. Steven Kwan - 5.5

  4. Amed Rosario - 4.1

  5. Myles Straw - 2.7

• 2022 Yankees' Top 5 Position Players by bWAR:

  1. Aaron Judge - 10.6

  2. Gleyber Torres - 4.1

  3. D.J. LeMahieu - 3.9

  4. Isiah Kiner-Falefa - 2.9

  5. Matt Carpenter/Josh Donaldson - 2.4

• 2022 Guardians' Top 5 Pitchers by bWAR

  1. Triston McKenzie - 4.0

  2. Shane Bieber - 3.6

  3. Emmanuel Clase - 2.8

  4. Cal Quantrill - 2.0

  5. Sam Hentges/James Karinchack - 1.3

• 2022 Yankees' Top 5 Pitchers by bWAR

  1. Nestor Cortes - 4.2

  2. Gerrit Cole - 2.4

  3. Michael King - 1.8

  4. Luis Severino - 1.6

  5. Clay Holmes - 1.3

• 2022 Records:

  • First Half: Yankees: 64-28, Guardians: 46-44

  • Second Half: Yankees: 35-35, Guardians 46-26