HOUSTON – The Yankees’ path to the World Series passed not only through the Houston Astros but especially their ace, Justin Verlander. If the Yankees want to win their first American League pennant since 2009, they may need to find a way to beat Verlander – this year’s AL Cy Young winner – at least once this October.
Verlander, 39, could become one of the best starting pitchers ever. After returning from Tommy John surgery that cost him nearly two seasons, he went 18-4 with an ERA of 1.75 in 175 turns in the regular season. He has 244 career wins, 3,198 goals, a Rookie of the Year award, a Most Valuable Player award, two Cy Young Awards and a World Series ring.
Beating the Seattle Mariners in the previous round allowed the Astros to comfortably align their pitchers strategically to face the Yankees. By picking right-hander Verlander for Game 1 of the Seven Games of the AL Championship starting Wednesday at Minute Maid Park, the Astros could return to him for a regular break for a potential Game 5.
Sure, the Yankees could lose both games started by Verlander and still win the series, but that dramatically narrows their margin of error in a showdown between AL’s top two seeds. During their first rift at Verlander, the Yankees held out on their own but were unable to topple him. He allowed a run and hit 11 out of six innings, paving the way for the Astros’ bats to explode in a 4-2 victory.
Verlander got off to a slow start, but at the start of the game the score was tied 1-1. In the second half of the sixth inning, however, Astros center back Yuli Gurriel and central midfielder Chas McCormick each hit a single homecoming to eliminate the Yankees’ right-handed reliever Clarke Schmidt. A round later, Astros rookie Jeremy Peña cracked a solo beat to right-hander Frankie Montas, who was making his first appearance after returning from a shoulder injury that appeared last month.
But it’s not like the Astros, who are making their sixth consecutive ALCS appearance, have a heavyweight spin. While Verlander may be the best pitcher in the AL this season, the Astros are deep. Only the Los Angeles Dodgers spin has a better ERA (2.75) than the Astros spin (2.95). At least one advanced stat (win above instead) rated the Astros’ team better than others. Framber Valdez, José Urquidy, Luis García, Cristian Javier and Lance McCullers Jr have each posted ERAs below 3.95 this season.
So, after challenging Verlander in game 1, the Yankees got left-handed Valdez, who won 17-6 with a 2.82 ERA over 201 innings in the regular season, in game 2 on Thursday. The Yankees will face right-hander Luis Severino, who allowed three runs of the year and two-thirds in his only start in the previous playoffs against the Cleveland Guardians.
On Wednesday, Yankees starting player Jameson Taillon did his best to neutralize the Astros. His only appearance in the previous round – his first post-season outing and also the first appearance of his career – was pathetic. In the Yankees’ 4-2 loss in extra time in game 2 to Cleveland, he threw the 10th inning with relief and launched two runs with three hits. Wednesday was his first game since October 4, and he only allowed one run over four and a third of innings.
But the Taillon and the Yankees couldn’t outlast Verlander and the Astros. To begin with, Verlander resisted some stubborn commands and tough expressions. He needed 55 pitches to complete the first two innings. One Yankees hero surgestriker Harrison Bader, gave his team an early lead against Verlander.
Acquired just before the August 2 trading deadline in a surprise swap with St. Louis Cardinals, Bader didn’t make his Yankees debut until late September because of a leg injury. But in six games in this post-season, Bader has completed four home runs, the most recent of which he beat Verlander in the second half.
That was all the Yankees were able to muster against Verlander, whose command had improved to the point where he could hit the edges of the strike zone with ease in the ensuing rounds. They also couldn’t take advantage of having cornered him. After first-half Anthony Rizzo walked on and let his henchman Giancarlo Stanton double in the third round, the Yankees had a chance to succeed with a cross. But third horseman Josh Donaldson and designated hitman Matt Carpenter each attacked – Carpenter looked at an attack called he disagreed – to end the threat.
It was the beginning of a match in which Verlander hit six Yankees straight. Upon defeating Carpenter again, this time, to complete six rounds, Verlander bounced off the mound and used his right hand.
It was the eighth game of his career after the season with 10 or more goals, extending his major league record. With his sixth hit of the night, he overtook Los Angeles Dodgers’ Clayton Kershaw (213) for the most career hits in post-season history.
The Yankees created drama in the eighth inning when Rizzo used right-handed reliever Rafael Montero. But with two runners-up and two eliminated, Ryan Pressly came closer than the Astros, beat Carpenter and then came back to win ninth. Usually not required to work more than one round, Pressly perfected, taking back all four beaters he faced.
