Throughout the Yankees’ clubhouse on Saturday afternoon, there were images of the Guardians’ victory in the decisive Game 5 of the American League Division Series flickering across television screens, playing in the background as the Bombers went through the paces of a workout in advance of the American League Championship Series.

One of the teams in that contest would earn the right to stand on the third-base line at Yankee Stadium on Monday evening, the Yankees understood. They also recognized that no matter who it was, they felt prepared, having dispatched the Royals in a four-game ALDS on the other side of the bracket.