Critical factors that could give Astros the upper hand vs. Yankees
02 September
The Astros host the Yankees Tuesday night. Composite Getty Image.
The Houston Astros are about to face one of the biggest tests of the season, opening a three-game set with the New York Yankees at Daikin Park.
Houston enters at 76-62, clinging to first place (3-game lead) in the AL West, while the Yankees (76-61) sit just behind Toronto (2.5 games) in the AL East. Both clubs are well aware of the October stakes and both are leaning on frontline pitching to set the tone in the opener.
Framber Valdez (12-7, 3.18 ERA) gets the call for Houston, looking to continue a run of steady outings that has helped stabilize the rotation down the stretch. He’ll be opposed by Max Fried (14-5, 3.06 ERA), who has given the Yankees an ace-level presence since arriving from Atlanta and has racked up 154 strikeouts with sharp command.
The Astros have been tough at home with a 42-30 record and know their best formula is simple: pile up hits. Houston is 54-23 when collecting eight or more, and the lineup showed signs of life in recent series wins. Jose Altuve remains the heartbeat, carrying 24 homers, 68 RBIs, and a .274 average into the night. Shortstop Jeremy Peña has heated up lately, with 13 hits in his last 42 at-bats, including five doubles.
The Yankees, meanwhile, have been surging. They’ve won seven of their last 10, outscoring opponents by 26 runs in that span behind a strong pitching staff and just enough timely hitting. Trent Grisham continues to provide pop with 28 home runs and 57 RBIs, while catcher Austin Wells has added four homers over the past 10 games.
Both teams bring in pitching momentum as well. Houston starters have helped the club to a 3.13 ERA over their last 10, while New York’s staff has been even stingier at 2.97.
It all sets up a heavyweight matchup to begin September, with the Astros looking to protect their division lead and the Yankees hoping to keep pressure on the AL East race. Tuesday’s opener marks the fourth meeting between the clubs this season, and given the playoff implications, it may feel a little like October already in Houston.
Betting odds
The betting line reflects the even nature of the matchup, with New York listed at -119 and the Astros close behind at -100, while oddsmakers expect a low-scoring affair with an over/under set at 7.5 runs.
Editor's note: This article will be updated when starting lineups are posted.
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Oswald Peraza hit a two-run single in the ninth inning to help the Los Angeles Angels snap a three-game losing skid by beating the Houston Astros 4-1 on Saturday night.
Peraza entered the game as a defensive replacement in the seventh inning and hit a bases-loaded fly ball to deep right field that eluded the outstretched glove of Cam Smith. It was the fourth straight hit off Astros closer Bryan Abreu (3-4), who had not allowed a run in his previous 12 appearances.
The Angels third run of the ninth inning scored when Mike Trout walked with the bases loaded.
Kyle Hendricks allowed one run while scattering seven hits over six innings. He held the Astros to 1 for 8 with runners in scoring position, the one hit coming on Jesús Sánchez’s third-inning infield single that scored Jeremy Peña.
Reid Detmers worked around a leadoff walk to keep the Astros scoreless in the seventh, and José Fermin (3-2) retired the side in order in the eighth before Kenley Jansen worked a scoreless ninth to earn his 24th save.
Houston’s Spencer Arrighetti struck out a season-high eight batters over 6 1/3 innings. The only hit he allowed was Zach Neto’s third-inning solo home run.
Yordan Alvarez had two hits for the Astros, who remained three games ahead of Seattle for first place in the AL West.
Key moment
Peraza’s two-run single to deep right field that broke a 1-1 tie in the ninth.
Key Stat
Opponents were 5 for 44 against Abreu in August before he allowed four straight hits in the ninth.
Up next
Astros RHP Hunter Brown (10-6, 2.37 ERA) faces RHP José Soriano (9-9, 3.85) when the series continues Sunday.
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