ALCS preview

*Photo from The Spokesman-Review*

   All season, it seemed like destiny. The New York Yankees and Houston Astros are set for battle in the 2019 ALCS, beginning in Houston on Saturday night, to determine who will represent the AL in the world series. These teams last met in the playoffs in the 2017 ALCS, in which Houston won in 7 games, and ended up winning the world series that year. The Yankees will be looking for revenge, while Houston will look to use the home field advantage to secure a world series spot. 

   The Yankees had a 103 win regular season, despite the pandemic levels of injuries they suffered through all year long. There was talk that their ALDS opponent, the Minnesota Twins, would give the Yankees a scare with their mashing ways. The Yankees easily pushed aside Minnesota in a 3 game sweep. Now, the extended rest could come back to haunt New York, at least in game one, or they could be ready to go. Regardless, they look dangerous, and they alone could send this series to at least 6 games. Starting pitching dominated the Twins in the DS, and they will look to continue that in the ALCS as well.

   The Astros had over 105 wins this season, and adding Zack Greinke, game one starter, at the trade deadline only further deepened their rotation, giving Houston 3 aces to start the first 3 games in Greinke, Gerrit Cole, and Justin Verlander. After that, perhaps Wade Miley or Colin McHugh could be used for a game 4 start. Their lineup is scary all around, and they put up some serious damage in the hitting department against the Tampa Bay Rays. George Springer, Alex Bregman, and Jose Altuve headline the top of the lineup, while guys like Yordan Alvarez, Carlos Correa, and Michael Brantley are solid bottom of the order threats. The back end of the bullpen features lockdown names such as Ryan Pressly, Will Harris, and Roberto Osuna, and should all but lock down any game they are leading. 

   This series is very evenly matched, and I expect it to go the full 7 games. But I think the Astros will prevail. They have more lineup depth, and they have impact bats all over the order, and the amount of injuries the Yankees got will thin out anyone's bench. The bullpens are pretty even in terms of dominance, but the Yankees don't have 3 aces like Houston does. Astros in 7.