James Paxton, Justin Verlander To Start Game 2 Of The ALCS In Houston
Earlier this week I wrote an article titled James Paxton To Start As New York Heads To Houston For Game 1 Of The ALCS?
Turns out that wasn’t the case as Aaron Boone decided to start James Paxton in game two of the American League Championship Series against Justin Verlander on Sunday.
James Paxton last pitched against Minnesota in the American League Division Series.
In that outing
James Paxton started the American League Division Series where he pitched 4 2/3 innings in his postseason debut, striking out eight while withstanding Jorge Polanco's first-inning solo homer and a third-inning solo shot off Nelson Cruz's bat. “according to https://www.mlb.com/news/yankees-win-alds-game-1-vs-twins
As for Justin Verlander’s last outing that came in game four of the American League Division Series against Tampa Bay who like New York is a member of the American League East.
Tommy Pham didn’t waste any time getting the Rays on the board Tuesday. Pham, who came into Tuesday’s game hitting .333 (3-for-9) against Verlander, sent a hanging changeup over the left-center-field wall to give Tampa Bay a 1-0 lead in the first. “according to https://www.mlb.com/news/tommy-pham-homers-off-justin-verlander-in-game-4
“[Verlander] made some really good pitches on me,” Pham said. “First pitch, curveball. Then he started dumping sliders. And 2-2, he decided to throw a changeup, and I mean, he pitches me tough. I just happened to put a good swing on that pitch.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/news/tommy-pham-homers-off-justin-verlander-in-game-4
Much like Kevin Kiermaier’s three-run home run in Game 3 on Monday, Pham’s solo blast gave the Rays the early momentum in front of another raucous crowd at Tropicana Field. After Pham’s home run, Travis d'Arnaud added an RBI single and Joey Wendle capped off the three-run first inning with an RBI double off Verlander. “according to https://www.mlb.com/news/tommy-pham-homers-off-justin-verlander-in-game-4
In the fourth inning, Willy Adames belted his second home run of the series, a 421-foot solo blast off Verlander to extend Tampa Bay's lead to 4-0. Verlander threw 84 pitches Tuesday and went just 3 2/3 innings, the second-shortest start of his postseason career, with the only one shorter coming in a rain-shortened one-inning start in Game 1 of the 2011 ALDS. “according to https://www.mlb.com/news/tommy-pham-homers-off-justin-verlander-in-game-4
As stated above,
James Paxton will start game two for New York. The left-hander comes into the game with a record of 15-6 with an earn run average of 3.82. In his first career postseason start, Paxton battled through 4 2/3 innings, striking out eight but allowing three runs. Next up, an Astros team the left-hander allowed five runs to in Houston on April 10 but held to one run in New York on June 21. He will oppose Houston right -hander Justin Verlander who comes into the game with a record of 21-6 with a 2.58 earn run average. Verlander had a rare postseason hiccup pitching on short rest in his last start against the Rays, lasting only 3 2/3 innings. But Verlander still has a 2.92 ERA in the playoffs as an Astro, including two dominant wins over the Yankees in 2017. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/roster/probable-pitchers
In this game New York will look to take a 2-0 lead in the American League Championship Series while Houston will look to bounce back from the series opening loss and even up the series.
As for the opening game of the American League Championship Series between New York and Houston, New York shutout Houston.
Heading into game one of the American League Championship Series in Houston Japanese right -hander Masahiro Tanaka didn’t have great numbers at Minute Maid Park as he came into the game with a record of 0-1 with a 5.73 ERA over four outings.
In game one of the American League Championship Series in Houston though that changed.
In six innings against Tanaka, the Astros had a walk and a single, didn’t get a runner into scoring position and hit only two balls out of the infield. Tanaka struggled at times this season, but in two postseason starts, including one in the AL Division Series against the Twins, he has allowed one earned run in 11 innings. As for considering the legacy part of the deal, he’s not there yet. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/masahiro-tanaka-among-postseason-elite
As for the New York offense,
What can I say? Gleyber Torres had a big night.
The second baseman had five-RBI’s in New York’s 7-0 Game 1 victory over the Astros on Saturday night.
Gleyber Torres is first Yankee to record five RBIs in a postseason game since Robinson Canó in Game 1 of the 2011 ALDS, Torres (22 years, 303 days old) is the third-youngest player overall to achieve the feat, behind Andruw Jones (19 years old, 180 days) and Addison Russell (22, 283).”according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gleyber-torres-continues-hot-postseason
As for the rest of the offense,
Giancarlo Stanton and Gio Urshela also homered as the Bombers accomplished what they were unable to during their ALCS visits to Houston two years ago -- stun and silence a frenzied, orange-towel-waving crowd of 43,311, allowing the visitors to board their buses back to the hotel while clutching a victory. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gleyber-torres-continues-hot-postseason
Meanwhile Houston was on the other end of the spectrum in game one of the American League Championship Series.
Houston's offense, which sputtered through the ALDS, was shut down by New York starter Masahiro Tanaka, who needed just 68 pitches to face the minimum through six innings while allowing one hit and one walk. Kyle Tucker singled and was erased on a double play in the third, and Bregman was tagged out trying to get back to first base on a screaming line-drive out to right fielder Aaron Judge off the bat of Yordan Alvarez in the fifth. “according to https://www.mlb.com/astros/news/zack-greinke-loses-alcs-game-1-to-yankees
The three hits by the Astros tied their season low, which came on March 31 at the Rays. Even in that game, they managed a solo homer by Jake Marisnick. “according to https://www.mlb.com/astros/news/zack-greinke-loses-alcs-game-1-to-yankees
First pitch is set for 8:08pm from Minute Maid Park. The game will be televised on FS1.