2024 ALDS Rematch As Kansas City Royals Host Struggling New York Yankees

A 2024 ALDS rematch is on tap as the Kansas City Royals host the New York Yankees at Kauffman Stadium. The 2024 ALDS rematch will feature great pitching matchups and also the top two vote-getters in the 2024 American League Most Valuable Player race Aaron Judge and Bobby Witt Jr. The 2024 Royals are struggling a bit and have some key players injured. But the Yankees just lost a series at home to their biggest rival. So, how this series will turn out is anyone’s guess, but it is going to be good. Who do you think will win this 2024 ALDS rematch?

Great Pitching Matchups In 2024 ALDS Rematch

There are some great pitching matchups in this rematch of the 2024 ALDS. In the first game, Yankees ace Max Fried faces Kansas City’s Noah Cameron. Fried is 8-1, with a 1.78 earned run average. Cameron is 2-1 with a 0.85 earned run average. That is a shining ERA, but it has occurred in only 31.2 innings pitched. Despite Cameron’s good statistics, the advantage goes to the Yankees in this game as Fried is unbeatable. The Yankees come in cold, having lost the last two games at home to the rival Red Sox.

In the second game of the 2024 ALDS rematch, the Yankees have Clarke Schmidt going against Kris Bubic. Schmidt will be looking to bounce back after a difficult start, but an advantage goes to the Royals in this one. Schmidt is 2-3 with a 4.04 earned run average. He has been his old, inconsistent self since coming off the injured list. Bubic, on the other hand, has been good this season for Kansas City. He is 5-3 with a sterling 1.43 earned run average. Look for the series to be tied at one after this game.

In the third game of this series, which should be the rubber game of the 2024 ALDS rematch, the Yankees have Will Warren going against Kansas City’s Cole Ragans. Ragans is a good pitcher, though his statistics this season are mediocre and very similar to Warren’s. Ragans is 2-3 on the season with a 5.18 earned run average. Warren is 4-3 with a 5.34 earned run average. Warren was great for the Yankees in the five starts preceding his last one, but he is coming off a rough outing and will look to bounce back. He will have his work cut out for him.

Yankees vs Royals Series, Hitting Preview

This series features some great hitters. The Yankees are led by Judge, who is leading Major League Baseball in almost every offensive category except home runs. The Royals are led by Witt Jr. Witt Jr. is currently batting .291 with 8 home runs. Both players have strong supporting casts. The two finished 1-2 in the American League’s MVP race in 2024. They may do so again in 2025.

The team statistics are also germane in this 2024 ALDS rematch. The Royals are struggling with power and have only 44 home runs. The Yankees, by contrast, have 105. The Royals’ struggles with power are a symbol of a more general offensive malaise. They are at or near the bottom of every offensive category. Meanwhile, the Yankees lead Major League Baseball in almost every team offensive category. The Royals pitching staff, however, does have a great team earned run average of 3.31.

Yankees vs Royals Series, Bullpen Preview

The Yankees have a slight edge when it comes to the bullpen. However, their bullpen was bad in their last series against the Red Sox. If their starting pitchers pitch well, the Royals may not need to use their bullpen that much.

Conclusion

All three of these games in Kansas City in the 2024 ALDS rematch are at 7:40 pm Eastern. Despite the good pitching matchups, expect these games to be a battle and be decided by the bullpens. The fact that the Yankees are coming off an off day helps them, though the injury to Luke Weaver does not help them. For Kansas City, Lucas Erceg and his 100-mile-per-hour fastball are on the 15-day injured list.