Yankees vs. Guardians: ALCS matchups, predictions and preview

The Yankees’ postseason tour through the AL Central will continue in the ALCS.After the Yankees knocked off the Royals in the ALDS, they are set to face the division-champion Guardians.

They met two years ago in the ALDS, which the Yankees won in five games, and the Yankees also beat Cleveland in the postseason in 2020 and 2017.It’s hard to foresee a different outcome in this best-of-seven as Cleveland barely survived their ALDS against the Tigers and the Yankees took four of six meetings during the regular season.The Post’s Dan Martin takes a look at how the teams match up heading into Monday’s Game 1 in The Bronx.The Yankees hardly hit the cover off the ball against Kansas City, but they had a lot of good, patient at-bats, with Gleyber Torres and Anthony Volpe among the best — although Volpe had little to show for his hard contact.

Juan Soto, while not the force he was during the regular season, was adept at drawing walks, as well.Steven Kwan couldn’t make an out against Detroit in the ALDS and Brayan Rocchio also sparked the lineup.

Jose Ramirez pummeled Yankee pitching the last two times the teams met in the postseason and has had a ton of success off Gerrit Cole, but went just 3-for-23 in six games against the Yankees this season.Edge: YankeesSo much for Aaron Judge putting his playoff issues behind him after another stellar regular season.Judge went just 2-for-13 with a double and an infield single, along with five walks.

Can his postseason drought (.615 OPS in 32 playoff games since he walked out of Fenway Park blasting “New York, New York” in 2018) continue? Soto walked a few times, but didn’t do much in the ALDS.Hard to imagine that will be the case against Cleveland — especially with Alex Cobb on the mound (career 7-for-11 with a double and two homers).

Giancarlo Stanton continued his usual October outburst with a pair of doubles and the biggest homer of the ALDS.The Yankees led baseball with 237 homers in the regular season, whil...