Luis Severino, Gerrit Cole To Start Game 3 As The ALCS Shifts To The Bronx

The first two games of the American League Championship Series were in Houston where New York and Houston split with New York winning the first game 7-0 and Houston winning the second by a score of 3-2.

With the series tied at one game a piece On Tuesday afternoon the two teams will play game three in the Bronx to decide who will take the lead in what is a seven series.

Luis Severino will start for New York while Garrett Cole will start for Houston. Garrett Cole who is starting for Houston was almost in pinstripes eleven years ago. Gerrit Cole, a 17-year-old high school star from Southern California, fell to the Yankees in the amateur draft and they selected him with the 28th pick. “according to https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/redsox/2019/10/14/drafted-yankees-gerrit-cole-has-always-wondered-about-career-path-didn-take/aFtT3EVw7mjMJqUmNYccWJ/story.html

Cole had a 97-mile-per-hour fastball, a sharp slider, and a bit of arrogance the scouts all loved. “according to https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/redsox/2019/10/14/drafted-yankees-gerrit-cole-has-always-wondered-about-career-path-didn-take/aFtT3EVw7mjMJqUmNYccWJ/story.html

When Cole spoke to reporters on a conference call after the draft, it sounded like he was ready to sign. “according to https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/redsox/2019/10/14/drafted-yankees-gerrit-cole-has-always-wondered-about-career-path-didn-take/aFtT3EVw7mjMJqUmNYccWJ/story.html

“Hopefully it’ll go quite smoothly,” he said.”according to https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/redsox/2019/10/14/drafted-yankees-gerrit-cole-has-always-wondered-about-career-path-didn-take/aFtT3EVw7mjMJqUmNYccWJ/story.html

Scott Boras was Cole’s agent — or “advisor” as the NCAA so ridiculously likes to label it — and had cut deals with the Yankees to sign first-round picks Andrew Brackman in 2007 and Ian Kennedy in 2006. Cole was next in line.”according to https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/redsox/2019/10/14/drafted-yankees-gerrit-cole-has-always-wondered-about-career-path-didn-take/aFtT3EVw7mjMJqUmNYccWJ/story.html

But instead he ended up going to college at UCLA. “according to https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/redsox/2019/10/14/drafted-yankees-gerrit-cole-has-always-wondered-about-career-path-didn-take/aFtT3EVw7mjMJqUmNYccWJ/story.html

The Cole family was well off financially and couldn’t be swayed. The teams who had passed on Cole because they weren’t sure he would sign were right. General manager Brian Cashman was angry at the time, but the Yankees regrouped by signing CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett in the offseason and won the World Series a year later. “according to https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/redsox/2019/10/14/drafted-yankees-gerrit-cole-has-always-wondered-about-career-path-didn-take/aFtT3EVw7mjMJqUmNYccWJ/story.html

In this game New York will look to bounce back and take the lead in the series while Houston will look extend their lead. Also in this game New York will hopefully get two of their players back. Those being left-fielder Giancarlo Stanton and center fielder Aaron Hicks. Stanton sustained a right quadriceps strain early in Saturday’s ALCS opener and did not appear in the Yankees’ 3-2, 11-inning loss at Houston in Sunday’s Game 2. With rest and treatment for Stanton prescribed, manager Aaron Boone said that the club should be able to better evaluate his status before Game 3. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/giancarlo-stanton-could-start-yankees-alcs-game-3

“He hit in the cage [Sunday] and it went pretty well,” Boone said. “We tried as much as we could to stay away from testing it or doing those kind of things with the off-day [Monday].” “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/giancarlo-stanton-could-start-yankees-alcs-game-3

In the event that Stanton is unable to play in Game 3, Boone said that Aaron Hicks could draw the start in center field, shifting Brett Gardner to left field. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/giancarlo-stanton-could-start-yankees-alcs-game-3

As stated above,

Luis Severino will start for New York. The right -hander comes into the game with a record of 1-1 with a 1.50 earn run average. Severino's four scoreless innings against the Twins in New York's clinching Game 3 win marked one of his more successful postseason starts. Severino faced the Astros twice in the 2017 ALCS, allowing four runs in 8 2/3 innings in two Yankees losses. He will oppose Houston right -hander Gerrit Cole who comes into the game with a record of 20-5 with a 2.50 earn run average. Cole is coming off an ALDS for the ages -- he beat the Rays twice, including in the winner-take-all Game 5, allowing just one run in 15 2/3 innings with a DS-record 25 strikeouts. Cole has 10-plus strikeouts in 11 consecutive starts. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/roster/probable-pitchers

As for game two of the American League Championship Series,

Houston tied the series up thanks to their shortstop.

. Carlos Correa stamped the conclusion of a four-hour, 49-minute affair, connecting for an 11th-inning homer off J.A. Happ that lifted the Astros to a 3-2 victory Sunday night in Game 2 of the ALCS. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-lose-alcs-game-2-on-astros-walk-off

Meanwhile New York had a setback and was denied the series lead despite the efforts of their right fielder who is 6’7 282 pounds.

When Aaron Judge rounded the bases with an early homer that stunned Justin Verlander, it was easy to envision the Yankees carrying a commanding American League Championship Series lead back to The Bronx, where the jet-engine roars of their frenetic home crowd could exceed the decibel levels that were produced underneath the roof at Minute Maid Park. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-lose-alcs-game-2-on-astros-walk-off

Verlander’s jaw dropped as he watched the flight of that drive carry over the center-field fence, but it was to be the Yanks’ only blow of the evening. Carlos Correa stamped the conclusion of a four-hour, 49-minute affair, connecting for an 11th-inning homer off J.A. Happ that lifted the Astros to a 3-2 victory Sunday night in Game 2 of the ALCS. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-lose-alcs-game-2-on-astros-walk-off

First pitch is set for 4:08pm from Yankee Stadium. The game will be televised on FS1.