The New York Yankees ousted the Kansas City Royals in four games in their ALDS matchup, eliminating the AL Central squad with a 3-1 victory on Thursday night.
The Yankees got a stellar performance from starting pitcher Gerrit Cole, who went seven innings and allowed just one run on six hits, but it was Giancarlo Stanton who once again stole the show.
Stanton went 2-for-3 with a double, a walk and a critical RBI single in the sixth inning to provide New York with an important insurance run.
It was also far from the only time the veteran slugger contributed in the series.
Overall, Stanton slashed .375/.444/.688 with one home run and four RBI in the set. He only struck out twice, and his homer proved to be the deciding factor in New York’s Game 3 victory.
For all of the lumps Stanton has taken as a Yankee, no one can question this one aspect of his game: the man produces in the playoffs.
In 31 career playoff games, the 34-year-old boasts a .987 OPS and has smashed 12 long balls to go along with 28 RBI. He is one of the most prolific power hitters in MLB postseason history, and he always seems to deliver for the Yankees when it matters most.
Yes, he can be frustrating during the regular season. He hasn’t made it through a full 162-campaign without injury since 2018. He can be maddeningly streaky. His vastly declining speed on the basepaths can sometimes be a detriment.
But when the chips are down in the playoffs, there isn’t a single player New York would rather have at the plate than Stanton, especially with Aaron Judge continuing his postseason disappearing act (although he finally showed signs of life in Game 4 versus the Royals).
There is no MVP award for the division series, but if there were one, Stanton without question would have taken home the honor.
This is nothing new for the former Miami Marlins superstar, who has made it a habit of elevating his play as soon as the calendar flips to October.
Reggie Jackson did the same thing several decades ago. George Steinbrenner called him “Mr. October.”
If Steinbrenner were alive today, he would surely place the same moniker on Giancarlo Stanton, who could very well be on his way to establishing himself as a New York Yankees legend.
