Is it too early to start thinking about the Astros going undefeated in the postseason? Through five games of the 2022 playoffs, the Astros are a perfect 5-0 heading into Game 3 of the American League Championship Series on Saturday against the Yankees at Yankee Stadium. Only the 1976 Reds (7-0) have gone undefeated in the playoffs since 1969, though the 1999 Yankees (11-1) and 2005 White Sox (11-1) came close. Still, going undefeated isn't likely. Houston has won its five games by a total of seven runs, including three one-run wins. The margin for error has been small and figures to remain so heading into the World Series. "Once you start winning these close games like we did down the stretch, and most of the year went in our favor, because I think our win-loss record in one-run games is high," Astros manager Dusty Baker said. "When you win these close games, it's pitching and defense. Usually we don't beat ourselves. We don't care what the score was or is, just as long as we touch home plate one more time than they do." |
The ALCS will be carried on TBS. Game 3 is on Saturday in New York at 5:07 p.m. ET/4:07 p.m. CT. All games are available in the U.S. on MLB.TV (authentication to a participating Pay TV provider is required). Live games are also available in select countries outside the U.S. For full details, click here. Probable starters Astros: RHP Cristian Javier Yankees: RHP Gerrit Cole Projected lineups |
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Astros: Through five games in the playoffs, the Astros have stuck with the same top six in the batting order. Don't expect anything to change as the Astros face Cole, their former teammate, in the Bronx. We'll give the nod at DH to Aledmys Díaz, who's 2-for-7 in his career against Cole with four strikeouts but handles the fastball well. Trey Mancini is 4-for-18 in his career against Cole with five strikeouts. Yankees: Bank on the Yankees delivering another lineup shuffle after trying Harrison Bader in the leadoff spot and giving Oswald Peraza a start at shortstop in ALCS Game 2. With the larger left-field area at Yankee Stadium, don't expect Giancarlo Stanton to play defense, which limits Matt Carpenter to a pinch-hitting option. |
Astros: Baker announced right-hander Cristian Javier will start Game 3 and Lance McCullers Jr. will go in Game 4 on Sunday. Yankees: Gerrit Cole (2-0, 2.03 ERA in the postseason) gets the start for the Yankees, pitching on extended rest following his Game 4 outing vs. Cleveland in the ALDS on Sunday. Cole yielded two runs over seven innings in a winning effort vs. the Guardians, walking one while striking out eight. As a Yankee, Cole is 4-1 with a 3.21 ERA in six postseason starts. His 11.51 strikeouts per nine innings ratio is the third highest in postseason history, behind Kenley Jansen (12.95) and Stephen Strasburg (11.55). |
Astros: The only Astros pitcher who's worked in both ALCS games is closer Ryan Pressly, who threw one inning in each and registered a total of 37 pitches. After a day off Friday, he should be ready for Game 3. Houston has yet to pitch Ryan Stanek -- their best reliever in the regular season -- in the ALCS because of the emergence of Bryan Abreu, who's allowed one hit and struck out seven batters in 4 1/3 innings in the postseason. The Astros still have fresh arms in Seth Martinez and starters Luis Garcia and José Urquidy, neither of whom has worked yet in the ALCS. Yankees: The Yankees' bullpen is relatively fresh, at least as much as can be expected at this time of year. Wandy Peralta has pitched in all but one of the Bombers' postseason games so far, so perhaps Boone will steer clear -- but not likely, considering Peralta's reputation for being rubber-armed. Jonathan Loáisiga tossed 23 pitches in Game 2. |
Astros: Yuli Gurriel was 2-for-3 in Game 2 and has recorded two or more hits in three of five postseason games this year. Gurriel is 10-for-26 in the playoffs with two homers. ... Altuve was 0-for-4 in Game 2 to stretch his hitless streak to 0-for-23, the worst such streak to start a postseason. Yankees: Harrison Bader continues to get on base at an impressive clip. He logged a hit and drew a walk in Game 2 …. Josh Donaldson, who has struggled this postseason, was 1-for-3 with a double in Game 2. … Anthony Rizzo, though 0-for-4 Thursday, drove in a run, marking four straight games that he's logged an RBI. … Conversely, Kyle Higashioka struck out in all three plate appearances in Game 2 and has five strikeouts in six postseason at-bats. |
Astros: The Astros are 11-5 all-time in postseason games vs. the Yankees -- their most such wins vs. any opponent -- including 8-1 at Minute Maid Park. … Houston has scored 20 runs in five games, and 16 of those runs have come via 10 homers, including all three of their runs in Game 2. … The Astros have won 12 of their past 15 one-run games in the postseason, dating back to 2017. Three of their five wins this postseason have been by just one run. … The Astros have played 12 of their last 13 games at home (regular season and postseason). Yankees: The Yankees did not hit a home run in Game 2, snapping an MLB-record 23 straight postseason games with a homer, dating back to Game 1 of the 2019 ALDS. … The Yankees have overcome an 0-2 deficit in a playoff series six times previously, including two times since 2001: the '17 ALDS vs. Cleveland and the '01 ALDS vs. Oakland. |
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