5 things we learned about the Yankees heading into the AL Championship Series

NEW YORK - As his giddy players were still spraying beer and sparkling wine late Thursday night at Kansas City , Yankees manager Aaron Boone shouted to be heard inside the celebratory visiting clubhouse.

Having dispatched the Royals in the AL Division Series, which opponent….

“We’re going to enjoy watching Game 5,’’ Boone said of Saturday’s Detroit Tigers-Cleveland Guardians deciding ALDS game, with the winner traveling to the Bronx for Monday’s AL Championship Series opener .

“Nothing’s easy this time of year, every series probably could’ve gone either way to this point,’’ Boone said after the Yanks’ 3-1 win in Game 4 at Kauffman Stadium.

Story continues below photo gallery

In Saturday's ALDS Game 5 at Cleveland, the Guardians held off the Tigers, 7-3, setting up their fourth playoff meeting against the Yankees since 2017.

Here are five things we learned about the Yankees from their first-round series that could impact the ALCS:

Best version of Yankees’ bullpen

Admit it, you wondered if this bullpen was built for October.

All season, the Yankees relief corps went through wild swings due to injuries – starting with Jonathan Loaisiga – and underperformance, culminating with Clay Holmes’ demotion from the closer role.

At the trade deadline, this was an area of need and GM Brian Cashman swung trades for two relievers – neither of whom made their playoff roster.

Enyel De Los Santos lasted two weeks before he was let go, and Mark Leiter Jr. didn’t make the cut, due to an ERA near 5.00.

How many division-leading clubs don’t have a concrete closer?

But that’s where the Yankees were in early September, until Luke Weaver ended that discussion.

In the ALDS, the Yankees’ bullpen did not allow an earned run in 15.2 innings, hammering home the point that this is currently the best version of their ‘pen all season.

Aaron Boone’s circle of trust

Boone had eight relievers and six extra position players to use during the ALDS, but he kept a closed circle.

That was partly due to the two off days (and no extra-innings) in what became a four-game series, playing back-to-back just once in Games 3 and 4.

So, Boone was able to use his high leverage relievers in exactly the spots he chose, and he mostly chose Tommy Kahnle, Clay Holmes and Luke Weaver.

That trio combined for 12.1 scoreless innings, with Holmes – the former closer – called upon in all four games.

Luis Gil didn’t pitch an inning, but he’s likely in the Yanks’ ALCS rotation, with Marcus Stroman as the emergency long reliever.

And with Alex Verdugo being reinstalled as the regular left fielder, Jasson Dominguez did not see an ALDS at-bat or a defensive inning, and neither did Trent Grisham, Ben Rice or Jose Trevino.

First base is covered

This was a big concern coming in, with Anthony Rizzo unavailable due to fractures of the fourth and fifth fingers on his right hand.

The Yankees would miss Rizzo’s defense, his ability to lengthen the lineup in the No. 8 spot, and his veteran presence as the infield captain.

But the duo of Oswaldo Cabrera and Jon Berti, novice first basemen, filled in admirably – especially on the defensive side.

Cabrera and Berti each started two games and made contributions, with Berti making some dynamic plays in his first big-league taste at first base, while also having solid at-bats.

Rizzo is hoping to be activated for the ALCS, but at least Boone knows he’s covered at that position.

Gleyber Torres, Anthony Volpe hitting their stride

Anthony Volpe was coming off an extreme up-and-down season, including a tough September.

After a mostly pedestrian season, Gleyber Torres was playing at his best since mid-August – batting over .300, with an OPS over .800.

Both players made notable contributions in the ALDS, with Torres being both patient and aggressive at the leadoff spot, and Volpe having a string of quality at-bats.

“Definitely like where he’s at offensively right now,’’ Boone said of Volpe, who also made a key defensive play in Game 3.

Volpe’s diving catch on the second base side helped short-circuit an eighth inning Royals rally, in a 3-2 Yankees win.

Giancarlo Stanton, Mr. October

In an ALDS where Aaron Judge did not drive in a run, Giancarlo Stanton delivered.

Stanton had never played a postseason series until he arrived in pinstripes. And when healthy, Stanton has shined in October – especially his home run rampage through the ALDS in 2020.

Batting in the No. 5 spot, behind rookie Austin Wells, Stanton became the hero of Game 3, with a late, tie-breaking home run that led the Yanks to a pivotal victory.

And he’s been an essential voice of reason, saying after the ALDS clincher: “We need to take care of business,’’ and bring a championship to New York.

Few pinstriped players have known the extreme highs and lows as well as Stanton, and remained steady throughout.

“The ups and down of the year are all test drives for now.’’

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: 5 things we learned about the Yankees heading into the AL Championship Series