New York Yankees have history on their side in ALDS Game 5

If there’s one thing the 2022 MLB postseason has shown us, it’s that history on the side of those teams who have to wait. That could well include the New York Yankees in Tuesday’s do-or-die Game 5 of the American League Division Series against the Cleveland Guardians.

History is pointing toward the New York Yankees in Game 5 of the ALDS

Already this postseason, we’ve seen two MLB fan bases rewarded for their long postseason wait, with the Seattle Mariners making the playoffs for the first time since 2001 and posting a Wild Card round win over the Toronto Blue Jays before being ousted by the Houston Astros. On the National League side of the bracket, the Philadelphia Phillies have moved on to the NLCS in their first postseason appearance since 2011.

While the New York Yankees don’t have to go back that far for their overall postseason history, Yankees fans do have to go back to 2012 to find the last time the Yankees had an elimination game (outside of a one-game Wild Card matchup) played in the Bronx. On October 12 of that year, CC Sabathia threw a 121-pitch complete game to push the Yankees to a 3-1 win over the Baltimore Orioles … in Game 5 of the ALDS.

It’s been a decade since that kind of pressure was felt in New York to cap off a series. Already this October, Seattle and Philadelphia hopped on their chances to do something that hadn’t been done in a decade or more. With Nestor Cortes on the mound on Tuesday, look for the Yankees to do the same.

Additionally, Cleveland brings a streak of its own into Game 5, and it’s not a good one for the Guardians. The franchise has lost its last 10 elimination games, including two World Series Game 7 matchups. There will be plenty of pressure on MLB’s youngest roster to snap that skid on Tuesday.

Signs are pointing toward positive things for the Yankees on Tuesday, with first pitch scheduled for 4:07 p.m. (Eastern). The game will be televised on TBS.