Another AL Central gauntlet stands in way of Yankees and World Series

The Yankees’ reward for finishing off the Royals in the ALDS at Kauffman Stadium on Thursday night is now they can kick their feet up on Saturday to find out who they will face in the ALCS. Instead of having to play Game 5 in The Bronx, the Yankees will have yet another day off — their ninth in 13 days since the end of the regular season — as the Guardians and Tigers go to battle in Cleveland to determine who will head to The Bronx for Game 1 of the ALCS on Monday. “We’re going to enjoy watching Game 5,” manager Aaron Boone said at the tail end of the Yankees’ party in the clubhouse at Kauffman Stadium as players passed by to pour champagne and beer on his head.“Both teams are playing really well.

Nothing’s easy this time of year.… We’re excited and we’ll be ready for whoever comes in.” Given their recent history, perhaps the Yankees will just be glad their opponent cannot be the Astros, the nemesis that has kept them from the World Series in each of their last three trips to the ALCS. The Royals proved to be a tough test in the ALDS, with their pitching staff mostly keeping the Yankees’ bats — in particular Aaron Judge, Austin Wells and Jazz Chisholm Jr.

— at bay.The Guardians and Tigers both offer potential challenges in that regard — the Guardians with a lockdown bullpen and the Tigers with the likely AL Cy Young winner, though having to play Game 5 means Detroit ace Tarik Skubal won’t be available to start until Game 3 of the ALCS if they advance, which is a win for the Yankees. During the regular season, the Yankees went 4-2 against both the Guardians and Tigers.

Boone was not yet ready to announce a starter for Game 1 of the ALCS right after securing the ALDS, but it’s likely that Carlos Rodon gets the ball (though Clarke Schmidt would be on normal rest) before Cole comes back for Game 2. But who will they be facing in the second leg of their AL Central postseason tour? Or rather, who should they be pulling for on...