The American League Championship Series is set to begin this weekend, and there are a pair of heavyweights waiting to battle. The Houston Astros will have home-field advantage in this best-of-seven series, but the New York Yankees are a monster to deal with. The Yankees have a lineup that is feared by almost anyone, but the Astros will counter with a historically good pitching staff.
New York wasted little time in sweeping the Minnesota Twins right out of the American League playoffs. The Yankees won 103 games during the regular season and cruised to an AL East title this season. Houston won a Major League-best 107 games during the regular season to win the AL West. The Astros had to survive a tough five-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays. New York will be -180 over the Houston Astros in the series opener.
Greinke Needs to Rebound For Astros
Zack Greinke will be on the mound for Houston in Game 1, and he will be trying to exorcise some demons. Greinke failed to make it out of the fourth inning against the Rays in his last start, allowing six earned runs. Keeping the ball in the park will be a huge key for Greinke, and he was pretty good at that during the regular season. The Astros will go to their bullpen early if Greinke struggles.
Alex Bregman and Jose Altuve were the stars for the Astros in the ALDS, but Houston has a deep lineup. Altuve led the team with three home runs against the Rays, while Bregman hit a team-high .353. The Yankees beat teams with their home run power, but the Astros are capable of scoring runs by stringing hits together.
Yankees Offense Continues To Mash
The New York Yankees scored 23 runs during their three-game sweep over the Minnesota Twins, hitting five home runs as a team. Gleyber Torres hit .417 during that series and continues to emerge as one of the best young hitters in baseball. Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton provide plenty of power, and they will be a constant threat to leave the park in Houston.
Masahiro Tanaka will make the start for the Yankees, and he looked sharp in his first start against the Twins. Tanaka gave up just one earned run in five innings pitched, and will be looking for the same formula in this one. The Yankees have one of the most feared bullpens in baseball, and they can cover plenty of innings if Tanaka struggles.
Yankees Beat Up Greinke, Win Game 1
The Houston Astros are going to have the pitching edge in almost every game in this series, but Game 1 isn’t one of them. Greinke has struggled in the playoffs during his career, and that was the case in the ALDS. The New York Yankees know that this is their best chance to steal a game on the road, and look for them to do just that in this one. Bet the New York Yankees -180 over the Houston Astros in Game 1 of the American League Championship Series.
