New York @ Houston preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 12, 2019 ) NY Yankees 7, Houston 0

When the New York Yankees lost to the Houston Astros in the 2017 American League Championship Series, they didn't have Gleyber Torres, who was just a 20-year-old in the minors. Torres was the star of Game 1 of this year's ALCS matchup with the Astros and will try to help the Yankees gain a 2-0 series lead when they visit Houston for Game 2 on Sunday night.

Torres singled, doubled and homered while driving in five runs to back an outstanding start by Masahiro Tanaka as New York won Game 1 by a 7-0 margin Saturday night. Tanaka allowed one hit over six scoreless innings and three relievers did the rest for the Yankees, who took the opener in Minute Maid Park after losing all four games in Houston during the 2017 ALCS. The Astros managed three hits overall Saturday and they are hitting .224 in the postseason. Justin Verlander won the 2017 ALCS Most Valuable Player after dominating the Yankees in two starts, and he'll try to have similar results when he starts Game 2 opposite New York lefty James Paxton on Sunday.

TV: 8:08 p.m. ET, Fox Sports 1

PITCHING MATCHUP: Yankees LH James Paxton (0-0, 5.79 ERA) vs. Astros RH Justin Verlander (1-1, 3.38)

Paxton's first career postseason start was in Game 1 of the ALDS against Minnesota and he allowed three runs over 4 2/3 innings, striking out eight and walking one. The 30-year-old gave up five runs in just four innings in his one start at Houston this year, but is 4-2 with a 3.92 ERA in eight career starts at Minute Maid Park. Jose Altuve is 10-for-30 with two home runs against Paxton while Carlos Correa is 9-for-22 with three doubles.

Verlander sparkled in his first game this postseason with seven scoreless innings against the Tampa Bay Rays, but he was knocked out after just 3 2/3 innings while allowing four runs in their second matchup four days later. He is 6-3 with a 2.95 ERA in nine career starts in the ALCS, including those two outings versus New York in 2017 in which he allowed one run across 16 total innings. DJ LeMahieu and Didi Gregorius are both 5-for-15 with a home run and a double against Verlander, while most of the other Yankees have struggled versus the former MVP.

WALK-OFFS

1. Torres is 8-for-17 with nine RBIs this postseason.

2. Yankees LF Giancarlo Stanton and 3B Gio Urshela, two other players not on the 2017 team that lost in the ALCS, also homered Saturday.

3. Astros CF George Springer was 0-for-4 in Game 1 and is 3-for-25 in the playoffs.

PREDICTION: Astros 4, Yankees 3