Masahiro Tanaka, New York Are Going For The Series Win In Houston

New York will look to win the series at Minute Maid Park Thursday afternoon as they take on the defending world series champions Houston Astros.

New York who is a member of the American League East  comes into their game against Houston with a record of 20-10. Houston meanwhile who is a member of the American League West comes into the game against New York with a record of 20-12. "according to http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/standings/

New York will start Japanese right -hander Masahiro Tanaka in the finale.

The right -hander comes into the game against Houston with a record of 4-2 to go along with a 4.37 earn run average. "according to http://www.espn.com/mlb/player/_/id/33150/masahiro-tanaka

Staked to a 10-0 lead, Tanaka cruised against the Angels in his last start, allowing a solo homer among two hits over six innings while striking out nine. He faced the Astros twice in the ALCS, taking a hard-luck loss in Game 1 and winning Game 5. "according to http://mlb.mlb.com/news/probable_pitchers/index.jsp?c_id=nyy Masahiro Tanaka will oppose Houston right -hander Lance McCullers Jr. The right-hander comes into the game against New York with a record of  4-1 to go along with a 3.71 earn run average. "according to http://www.espn.com/mlb/player/_/id/32764/lance-mccullers-jr  

With a top-notch curveball and an emerging changeup, McCullers has allowed only two runs in his last three starts. In his last outing, a win over the A’s, McCullers threw seven shutout innings, allowing two hits while retiring his first 15 batters. "according to http://mlb.mlb.com/news/probable_pitchers/index.jsp?c_id=nyy

As for New York and Houston's previous game,

Luis Severino was stellar for New York and pitched a complete game but he wasn't the only player who impacted the game in a positive way for New York right fielder Giancarlo Stanton did as well. 

Luis Severino was Backed by a two-homer, four-RBI performance from Giancarlo Stanton, Severino struck out 10 and pitched the first complete game of his big league career, pounding his glove with glee after shutting out the Astros in a 4-0 victory at Minute Maid Park. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/luis-severino-pitches-first-shutout-vs-astros/c-274969922

"I wouldn't want to be in the box facing him," Stanton said. "He's going to pound the zone at 100 mph, and if you look on time for that, you're going to get that 90-mph slider. It's exactly what we needed tonight and another par-for-the-course outing for him." "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/luis-severino-pitches-first-shutout-vs-astros/c-274969922

Severino was credited with his fifth win, tying the Indians' Corey Kluber for the American League lead as the Yankees won for the 11th time in 12 games. Severino retired 14 of the first 15 men he faced, yielding five hits and a walk in the 110-pitch effort. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/luis-severino-pitches-first-shutout-vs-astros/c-274969922

"This means a lot," Severino said. "This is a great team. They're a great fastball-hitting team. For me and [catcher Austin] Romine to be able to go through nine innings, that's very special." "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/luis-severino-pitches-first-shutout-vs-astros/c-274969922

Severino was at 98 pitches after the eighth inning, and he returned to the dugout bench unsure if manager Aaron Boone would permit him to try for the shutout. Boone asked how he was feeling, then told him: "I'm going to give you one more." Severino beamed briefly, then restored his game face for the ninth."according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/luis-severino-pitches-first-shutout-vs-astros/c-274969922

"There was a lot of trepidation. It was frankly a tough call for me," Boone said. "I had a conversation with Sevy real quick and actually deliberated on it for a few seconds. I felt like he was in a good place to go back out. I felt like he had a lot left in the tank." "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/luis-severino-pitches-first-shutout-vs-astros/c-274969922

With the Yanks recording their second consecutive shutout, Stanton's second multihomer game of the season fueled the offense. Stanton cracked a two-run homer to right field in the first inning, a solo shot to left field in the fourth and an RBI double to right in the eighth. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/luis-severino-pitches-first-shutout-vs-astros/c-274969922

The first two knocks came off Houston starter Dallas Keuchel, who took the loss, scattering six hits over seven innings. Keuchel walked none and struck out five. He had never permitted a home run to a Yankees hitter before Wednesday. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/luis-severino-pitches-first-shutout-vs-astros/c-274969922

I didn't know that," Stanton said. "Good to break that, at least." "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/luis-severino-pitches-first-shutout-vs-astros/c-274969922

Stanton got to Hector Rondon for his third hit of the night, producing an insurance run that helped nudge Severino back to the mound. He was still throwing 99 mph in the ninth inning. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/luis-severino-pitches-first-shutout-vs-astros/c-274969922

Stanton got to Hector Rondon for his third hit of the night, producing an insurance run that helped nudge Severino back to the mound. He was still throwing 99 mph in the ninth inning. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/luis-severino-pitches-first-shutout-vs-a

"At the start of the game, he's throwing 97, 96, 98," Aaron Hicks said. "It just seems like as the game goes on, he's throwing harder and harder, which is really impressive." "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/luis-severino-pitches-first-shutout-vs-astros/c-274969922

Severino struggled against the Astros last season, going 0-2 with a 7.16 ERA in four starts -- including two in the AL Championship Series. The difference, Severino said, came by trusting his changeup in key situations."according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/luis-severino-pitches-first-shutout-vs-astros/c-274969922

"I was getting ahead in the count," Severino said. "My fastball was there. I threw a lot of changeups. Every time I threw against these guys [previously], it was fastball, slider, fastball, slider. I tried to change and throw more changeups.""according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/luis-severino-pitches-first-shutout-vs-astros/c-274969922

MOMENT THAT MATTERED
Severino's shutout bid remained intact with a big assist from second baseman Gleyber Torres, who ranged up the middle to flag Alex Bregman's soft line drive with two on and none out in the seventh inning. Severino recovered to strike out Marwin Gonzalez and retire pinch-hitter Brian McCann on a groundout."according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/luis-severino-pitches-first-shutout-vs-astros/c-274969922

"He just kind of came out of nowhere," Boone said. "[Yuli Gurriel had] the infield hit to start it, then [Josh] Reddick hit the ball hard, and then a bloop. You're like, 'Is this how his night is going to end, with a couple dinkers?' And Gleyber comes out of nowhere and makes another impactful play on defense like he's been doing since he got here."according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/luis-severino-pitches-first-shutout-vs-astros/c-274969922

SOUND SMART
At 24 years and 71 days old, Severino is the youngest Yankees pitcher to throw a shutout with 10 or more strikeouts since 23-year-old Stan Bahnsen blanked the Red Sox with 12 strikeouts on Aug. 1, 1968, at Fenway Park. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/luis-severino-pitches-first-shutout-vs-astros/c-274969922

YOU GOTTA SEE THIS
Tyler Austin made a nifty play to retire McCann for the final out of the seventh inning, but the first baseman landed hard on his right hip and gingerly left the field. He was replaced by pinch-hitter Neil Walker when the Yankees came to bat in the eighth inning, but Austin said that his hip felt better after the game and he expects to play on Thursday."according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/luis-severino-pitches-first-shutout-vs-astros/c-274969922

"He jammed his hip and was out of whack," Boone said. "He limped off pretty good. But he looked pretty good after the game and said he'd be OK tomorrow. It seems like we avoided something serious." "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/luis-severino-pitches-first-shutout-vs-astros/c-274969922

HE SAID IT
"I didn't do anything special last year. I have to keep grinding, keep fighting. The things that happened last year, that's last year. This year I have to try to be better." -- Severino "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/luis-severino-pitches-first-shutout-vs-astros/c-274969922

With the win New York improves to 20-10 in the regular season and is two games behind American League East rival Boston who is leading the division. "according tohttp://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/standings/ 

Meanwhile with the loss Houston who is leading the American League West will drop to 20-12 on the regular season. "according to http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/standings/

New York and Houston will finish up their four -game series Thursday afternoon at Minute Maid Park. Masahiro Tanaka is seeking his third consecutive win, having completed at least six innings with three hits or fewer and one run in both of his previous outings. He struck out nine in his last effort on Saturday against the Angels. Lance McCullers Jr. starts for the Astros. "according tohttps://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/luis-severino-pitches-first-shutout-vs-astros/c-274969922

First pitch is set for 2:10pm from Minute Maid Park. The game will be televised on Major League Baseball Network and Yes. "according to  https://www.mlb.com/yankees/schedule/2018-05