YANKEES VS. ASTROS
Schedule: Game 1, Saturday, at Houston, 8:08 p.m.; Game 2, Sunday, at Houston, 8:08p.m.; Game 3, Tuesday, at New York, 4:08p.m; Game 4, Wednesday, at New York, 8:08p.m.: x-Game 5, Thursday, at New York, 8:08p.m; x-Game 6, Saturday, Oct. 19, at Houston, 4:08p.m. or TBA; x-Game 7, Sunday, Oct. 20, at Houston, 7:38p.m. (All games on Fox or FS1). x-if necessary.
Season Series: Astros, 4-3.
PROJECTED LINEUPS
Yankees: 1B DJ LeMahieu (.327, 26HRs, 102 RBIs), RF Aaron Judge (.272, 27, 55in 102games), CF Brett Gardner (.251, 28, 74), DH Edwin Encarnación (.244, 34, 86), LF Giancarlo Stanton (.288, 3, 13in 18games), 2B Gleyber Torres (.278, 38, 90), C Gary Sánchez (.232, 34, 77), SS Didi Gregorius (.238, 16, 61), 3B Gio Urshela (.314, 21, 74). Astros: CF George Springer (.292, 39, 96), LF Michael Brantley (.311, 22, 90, 402Bs), 2B Jose Altuve (.298, 31, 74), 3B Alex Bregman (.296, 41, 112, 372Bs, 119BBs, 122runs), DH Yordan Álvarez (.313, 27, 78in 87games), 1B Yuli Gurriel (.298, 31, 104, 402Bs), SS Carlos Correa (.279, 21, 59), RF Josh Reddick (.275, 14, 56), C Robinson Chirinos (.238, 17, 58).
STARTING PITCHERS
Yankees: RH Masahiro Tanaka (11-9, 4.45ERA), LH James Paxton (15-6, 3.82), RH Luis Severino (1-1, 1.50, in 3starts), LH J.A. Happ (12-8, 4.91) or RH Chad Green (4-4, 4.17, 98Ks in 69IP). Astros: RH Zack Greinke (18-5, 2.93), RH Justin Verlander (21-6, 2.58, career-high 300Ks, led majors with 223IP), RH Gerrit Cole (20-5, AL-best 2.50, MLB-leading 326Ks), RH Jose Urquidy (2-1, 3.95) or LH Wade Miley (14-6, 3.98). RELIEVERS
Yankees: LH Aroldis Chapman (3-2, 2.21ERA, .182BA against, 85Ks in 57IP), LH Zack Britton (3-1, 1.91, 3saves, .179BA against), RH Adam Ottavino (6-5, 1.90, 2saves, .195BA against), RH Tommy Kahnle (3-2, 3.67, .199BA against, 88Ks in 611⁄3 IP), RH Chad Green.
Astros: RH Roberto Osuna (4-3, 2.63), RH Ryan Pressly (2-3, 2.32), RH Will Harris (4-1, 1.50), RH Chris Devenski (2-3, 4.83), RH Josh James (5-1, 4.70), RH Hector Rondon (3-2, 3.71), RH Brad Peacock (7-6, 4.12), RH Joe Smith (1-0, 1.80). WATCH FOR
Leading Off. Springer led majors with 12leadoff homers, tied for second-most in MLB history and one shy of record set by Alfonso Soriano in 2003 with Yankees. LeMahieu, in first season with Yankees, also offers plenty of punch at top of lineup with 26homers and 102RBIs.
Unhittable. Cole carried his incredibly dominant run right through ALDS, going 2-0with 0.57ERA and record 25strikeouts against 6hits and 3walks in 152⁄3 innings. He is 18-0in last 24starts and hasn’t lost since May 22. Good timing, too, because the 29-year-old right-hander can become a free agent this fall and could land richest contract ever given to a pitcher.
Little Big Man. The 5-foot-6Altuve, who topped 6-foot-7Judge for 2017AL MVP award, has been a huge thorn in Yankees’ side along with so many other teams. Altuve had 1.281OPS and 3home runs against Tampa Bay to give him 11in postseason career, most by a second baseman.