The third game of the best-of-seven series between the New York Yankees and Houston Astros will take place in the Bronx, moving the ALCS to New York.
After a 3-2 victory on Thursday night, Houston increased their lead to 2-0 thanks to another strong start from a another starting pitcher in Framber Valdez. In the upcoming game's pitching duel, Astros righty Cristian Javier (11-9, 2.54) will face off against Yankees star Gerrit Cole (13-8, 3.50).
The first pitch is set for 5:07 PM EST.
Astros vs Yankees Betting Odds
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Houston Astros vs New York Yankees Match Details
Fixture: Astros at Yankees.
Date and Time: Saturday, October 22, at 5:07 PM ET.
Venue: Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY.
Houston Astros vs New York Yankees Key Stats
The Houston Astros have improved upon the New York Yankees' postseason recipe to take a 2-0 lead in this series. They have used excellent pitching and power hitting to propel themselves to a lead.
They repeated their success from Game, which they won 4-2, behind six innings, 11 strikeouts from Justin Verlander, and three solo home runs in Game 2 on Thursday.
In Game 2, Framber Valdez only allowed four hits and two runs while striking out nine hitters and walking none. As they head to New York in the playoffs, Houston are on a 5-0 run.
Despite Jose Altuve's 0-for-23 outing during the playoffs, the Astros are hitting .229 as a team. Houston has managed 10 home runs in their last five games and its power hitting has been extremely beneficial. The Astros have a 1.83 ERA on the mound and have only given up 34 hits in 54 innings pitched.
For the Yankees, and particularly for their lineup, it is officially now or never. They have become a below-average scoring team after tormenting the American League pitching staff for most of the season due to crucial injuries and slumps.
The Yankees have played seven postseason games, hitting a pitiful.169 as a club, while averaging only five hits and less than 3.4 runs per game.
Gerrit Cole will once more be entrusted with the fate of New York in the postseason. He has made two starts in the playoffs this year and has a 2-0 record with a 2.13 ERA. In 13.1 innings of work, Cole has given up 10 hits while striking out 16 hitters and walking just two.
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Houston Astros vs New York Yankees Best Picks and Prediction
Harrison Bader was inserted at the top of the lineup on Thursday as Yankees manager Aaron Boone finally changed his lineup following his team's difficulties. At the top of the lineup, Bader walked and singled, giving Giancarlo Stanton, Anthony Rizzo, and Aaron Judge at least a chance to hit with a runner on base.
The New York Yankees will have Matt Carpenter available for a complete game at home against that short right-field porch for the first time in the postseason. They will also be helped by a righty being on the mound.
Houston Astros pitcher Cristian Javier has pitched really effectively in the season's final weeks, particularly against New York. However, playing at Yankee Stadium in the postseason is a whole other experience.
Cole has shown that he is a real stopper and will maintain that position in this crucial game. Expect the New York Yankees to gradually accumulate enough runs, and Cole to get them into the eighth inning to end the game.
With the money line, go with the Yankees.
Pick: Yankees team total runs in first five innings Over 1.5 (-130)
Prediction: Yankees -145
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