ALCS GAME 1

Breakdown of the Astros-Yankees Game 1 at Minute Maid Park

Breakdown of the Astros-Yankees Game 1 at Minute Maid Park
George Springer and the Astros face off with the Yankees tonight. Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images

The Astros and Yankees begin the ALCS tonight. Here is a preview of tonight’s game. Check back during the game for inning by inning updates:

When: 7 p.m.

Where: Minute Maid Park.

TV: Fox Sports 1.

Streaming: Fox Sports Go.

Game 1 pitching matchup: Dallas Keuchel vs. Masahiro Tanaka.

The breakdown: The Yankees are coming off a big win over the Indians in the ALDS, coming back from a 2-0 deficit. They should have won Game 2. That coupled with the win in the wild-card game over the Twins gives them a ton of momentum heading into the series. The Astros will send Keuchel to the mound in Game 1 and Justin Verlander in Game 2. While the Yankees are on a roll, the Astros have been the better team all year. Should be a great matchup with the World Series berth on the line.


Series schedule:

 

 

 

Pitching matchup

Game 1           

Today, 7 p.m.          

Minute Maid Park          

Dallas Keuchel vs. Masahiro Tanaka         

Game 2

Sat., 3 p.m.

Minute Maid Park

Justin Verlander vs. Luis Severino

Game 3

Mon., 7 p.m.

Yankee Stadium

TBA vs. CC Sabathia

Game 4

Tues., (TBA)

Yankee Stadium

TBA vs. Sonny Gray

Game 5*

Wed.,  (TBA)

Yankee Stadium

TBA vs. TBA

Game 6*

Oct. 20 (TBA)

Minute Maid Park

TBA vs. TBA

Game 7*

Oct. 21 (TBA)

Minute Maid Park

TBA vs. TBA

* Games 5-7 are if necessary.

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Kyle Tucker returns to Houston this weekend. Composite Getty Image.

Two first-place teams, identical records, and a weekend set with serious measuring-stick energy.

The Houston Astros and Chicago Cubs open a three-game series Friday night at Daikin Park, in what could quietly be one of the more telling matchups of the summer. Both teams enter at 48-33, each atop their respective divisions — but trending in slightly different directions.

The Astros have been red-hot, going 7-3 over their last 10 while outscoring opponents by 11 runs. They've done it behind one of the best pitching staffs in baseball, with a collective 3.41 ERA that ranks second in the American League. Houston has also been dominant at home, where they’ve compiled a 30-13 record — a stat that looms large heading into this weekend.

On the other side, the Cubs have held their ground in the NL Central but have shown some recent shakiness. They're 5-5 over their last 10 games and have given up 5.66 runs per game over that stretch. Still, the offense remains dangerous, ranking fifth in on-base percentage across the majors. Kyle Tucker leads the way with a .287 average, 16 homers, and 49 RBIs, while Michael Busch has been hot of late, collecting 12 hits in his last 37 at-bats.

Friday’s pitching matchup features Houston’s Brandon Walter (0-1, 3.80 ERA, 1.10 WHIP) and Chicago’s Cade Horton (3-1, 3.73 ERA, 1.29 WHIP), a promising young arm making one of his biggest starts of the season on the road. Horton will have his hands full with Isaac Paredes, who’s slugged 16 homers on the year, and Mauricio Dubón, who’s found a groove with four home runs over his last 10 games.

It’s the first meeting of the season between these two clubs — and if the trends continue, it may not be the last time they cross paths when it really counts.

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Astros -112, Cubs -107; over/under is 8 1/2 runs

Here's a preview of Joe Espada's Game 1 lineup.

The first thing that stands out is rookie Cam Smith is hitting cleanup, followed by Jake Meyers. Victor Caratini is the DH and is hitting sixth. Christian Walker is all the way down at seventh, followed by Yainer Diaz, and Taylor Trammell who is playing left field.

How the mighty have fallen.

Pretty wild to see Walker and Diaz hitting this low in the lineup. However, it's justified, based on performance. Walker is hitting a pathetic .214 and Diaz is slightly better sporting a .238 batting average.

Screenshot via: MLB.com



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