The New York Yankees will advance to the World Series on Saturday after defeating the Cleveland Guardians 5-2 in Game 5 of the American League Championship Series.

It’s a return to baseball’s biggest stage for the Yankees, who haven’t played in the World Series since winning it in 2009. While the fifteen-year drought doesn’t seem very long, it tied the franchise’s record for the largest pennant difference.

This team was propelled to the Fall Classic by timely hitting from the top of the lineup, most notably designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton, and a near-perfect bullpen save for a collapse in Game 3 against the Guardians.

The Yankees trailed the Guardians 0–2 until Stanton hit a two-run home run in the top of the sixth inning, tying the game and sending extra innings.

In the top of the tenth, Juan Soto sealed the deal for the Yankees by hitting a three-run home run with two outs on the board.

The Guardians could not answer.

Although absent from the World Series, the Yankees have been in the playoffs almost every season and have reached five championship series (2010, 2012, 2017, 2019, 2022).

The Yankees’ three most recent championship series losses came at the hands of the Houston Astros, who have been the most dominant team in the American League for nearly a decade.