The New York Yankees will be playing the Houston Astros in the American League Championship Series, and the Yankees have some unfinished business with them.
Yankees vs Astros, you say pic.twitter.com/Izeu1ZTpBo
— Mike Petriello (@mike_petriello) October 11, 2019
In 2017, the Yankees were the first Wild Card team and took care of the Minnesota Twins in the Wild Card game. In the ALDS, the Yankees came back from 2-0 down to reverse-sweep the Cleveland Indians 3-2. The Yankees played the Astros in the ALCS and lost in seven games to the eventual World Series champions.
However, this time, it’s different.
This is going to be a battle of the titans, and the Yankees will be looking for revenge.
This year, the Yankees were the second-best team in the American League, and are an absolute powerhouse. 306 home runs in the regular season and the Yankees have played with a multitude of injuries and were still able to win the American League East.
They made quick work of the Twins, sweeping them in the ALDS. They will be well-rested and ready to go for Game 1 on Saturday.
The Astros, however, blew their 2-0 lead over the Tampa Bay Rays. The Rays took the Astros to five games, but the Astros won Game 5 to advance to the ALCS. In a way, the Rays helped the Yankees and gave them an advantage for the first few games of the ALCS.
In Game 4, Justin Verlander pitched, and in Game 5, Gerrit Cole pitched. This allowed for the Astros two best pitchers to already be out for Game 1 of the ALCS. They will be on short rest, so it will be VERY unlikely for either of them to pitch on Saturday.
Yankees-Astros.
Judge-Verlander.
Who you got? pic.twitter.com/UwYrqSvd82— Bleacher Report MLB (@BR_MLB) October 11, 2019
The Yankees came just one win away from reaching the World Series in 2017.
Now, they want to go even farther than just reaching it. Their next obstacle keeping them from being immortalized in baseball history: the Houston Astros.
Featured Image: Robert Deutsch - USA Today Sports
