{"id":87083,"date":"2024-10-03T14:56:46","date_gmt":"2024-10-03T18:56:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/?p=87083"},"modified":"2024-10-03T14:56:46","modified_gmt":"2024-10-03T18:56:46","slug":"key-yankees-players-step-up","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2024\/10\/03\/key-yankees-players-step-up\/","title":{"rendered":"Yankees Players Under Pressure to Perform in ALDS Showdown"},"content":{"rendered":"

The New York Yankees have the best record in the American League<\/a>, but their path to the World Series won’t be easy. They’re set to face the Kansas City Royals in the ALDS, starting with Game 1 this Saturday. The Royals, who swept the heavily favored Baltimore Orioles in the Wild Card round, pose a formidable challenge. Although the Yankees had a 5-2 record against Kansas City during the regular season, advancing past this tough team won’t be simple. To move on to the ALCS, the Yankees will need some key players to step up in a big way during this series.<\/span><\/p>\n

Yankees’ Postseason Hopes Rest on These Players’ Shoulders<\/h2>\n

Giancarlo Stanton<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Obviously, outfielders Aaron Judge<\/a> and Juan Soto<\/a> are going to be the deciding factors in this series. If one or both of them loses it at the plate, the Yankees are in trouble. But don’t forget about the vital presence of veteran Giancarlo Stanton<\/a>, who ended his injury-shortened 114-game season with 27 home runs. Not only does having Stanton in the lineup provide some power and stability in the middle of the order, but “Big G” has been one of New York’s most clutch postseason hitters in recent years. In 5 trips to the postseason (27 total games), Stanton has a .963 OPS, 11 home runs and 24 RBI, showing how he plays best when it matters most.<\/p>\n

The Yankees will go as far as Judge and Soto will take them, but it would be criminal to discount potentially their most clutch hitter in Stanton.<\/p>\n

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October Stanton is loading<\/p>\n

GAME BREAKER pic.twitter.com\/4CMtNCY2n6<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Eric Hubbs (@BarstoolHubbs) September 27, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n