Can James Paxton Help New York Stay Alive In The ALCS Against Justin Verlander And Houston ?

James Paxton was New York’s most consistent starter toward the end of the regular season.

The Canadian left-hander who’s nickname is the Big Maple went 10-0 with a 2.51 ERA over his last 11 regular-season starts.”according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-path-to-comeback-from-3-1-down-in-alcs

James Paxton though has been quite hittable in two postseason starts, lasting just seven innings over those two outings. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-path-to-comeback-from-3-1-down-in-alcs

Can he bounce back in game five of the American League Championship Series and help New York stave off elimination and send the series back to Houston for game six?

While James Paxton will look to bounce back from his game two performance will the offense be able to get back in the groove against Justin Verlander who will be starting for Houston?

In their game one win New York’s offense was firing on all cylinders and scored seven runs. Since then what have they done?

Well, New York is 1-for-16 with runners in scoring position over the past three games, and the one hit -- Brett Gardner’s two-out single in the sixth inning of Game 2 -- didn’t even plate a run thanks to Correa’s great throw home to nab DJ LeMahieu at the plate. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-path-to-comeback-from-3-1-down-in-alcs

As stated above,

James Paxton will start for New York. The left-hander comes into the game with a record of 15-6 with a 3.82 earn run average. Paxton exited after just 2 1/3 innings in Game 2 in Houston, even though he allowed only one run on four hits. Neither Paxton nor manager Aaron Boone believed the lefty was giving his pitches away. It was simply time to get the starter out of the game. Paxton went 7-3 with a 3.35 ERA in 15 home games this season. 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 looked more like himself in his last ALCS start, allowing just two runs on an Aaron Judge homer in 6 2/3 innings as the Astros won, 3-2. In three playoff starts against the Yankees as an Astro, Verlander has a 1.19 ERA and 28 strikeouts. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/roster/probable-pitchers

As for game four of the American League Championship Series,

New York lost their third straight.

The Yankees now trail the best-of-seven ALCS three games to one, and their path includes a pair of substantial stumbling blocks in leading AL Cy Young Award contenders Justin Verlander and Gerrit Cole, needing to defeat both if they are to advance and face the Nationals in the World Series. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-lose-to-astros-in-game-4-of-alcs

The Yankees were unable to convert several of those tantalizing opportunities in Game 4, including a big first-inning spot that would have knocked starter Zack Greinke out of the game. Greinke appeared to be rattled by the boisterous crowd of 49,067 as he walked three, including a bases-loaded free pass to Brett Gardner that provided the Yanks with their first lead since the fifth inning of Game 2. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-lose-to-astros-in-game-4-of-alcs

With Brad Peacock hurriedly tossing in the visiting bullpen, Greinke recovered to strike out the struggling Gary Sánchez on three pitches to end the inning. The Yankees were finally able to chase Greinke four innings later behind a LeMahieu single and a Judge walk, prompting Houston to call upon Ryan Pressly, who walked Aaron Hicks to load the bases with one out. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-lose-to-astros-in-game-4-of-alcs

Pressly recovered to strand all three men aboard, striking out Torres -- rung up on a check-swing by first-base umpire Mark Carlson -- and then fanning Edwin Encarnación, who is 1-for-15 in the ALCS. Greinke survived the shaky four-walk effort, charged with a run on three hits over 4 1/3 inning “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-lose-to-astros-in-game-4-of-alcs

Adam Ottavino made another ineffective appearance in the eighth, as both batters he faced reached base -- one on an error by LeMahieu at first base. It was Ottavino’s fourth appearance of the postseason in which he did not record an out, establishing a dubious Major League record. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-lose-to-astros-in-game-4-of-alcs

Meanwhile Houston extended their lead in the American League Championship Series.

Springer blasted a go-ahead three-run homer in the third inning of Game 4 of the ALCS against the Yankees on Thursday night at Yankee Stadium, it was only fitting for Correa to follow suit with a three-run shot of his own in the sixth inning, helping send the Astros to an 8-3 win and a commanding 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series. “according to https://www.mlb.com/astros/news/george-springer-carlos-correa-homer-in-astros-alcs-game-4-win

The homers by Springer and Correa -- who were a combined 3-for-24 in the ALCS entering Game 4 -- marked the sixth time the duo has gone deep in the same postseason game, which is the most by any pair of teammates in Major League postseason history. Houston is 6-0 in those games, including Thursday’s win. “according to https://www.mlb.com/astros/news/george-springer-carlos-correa-homer-in-astros-alcs-game-4-win

Springer put the Astros ahead, 3-1, when he crushed a Masahiro Tanaka splitter for a three-run homer in the third that was struck at 109.8 mph off the bat. Correa hit a 109.5 mph laser off reliever Chad Green in the sixth inning for a three-run shot that put Houston ahead 6-1.”according to https://www.mlb.com/astros/news/george-springer-carlos-correa-homer-in-astros-alcs-game-4-win

First pitch is set for 7:08pm from Yankee Stadium. The game will be televised on FS1.