FS1

Houston @ New York preview

Yankee Stadium

Last Meeting ( Oct 16, 2019 ) Houston 0, NY Yankees 0


The New York Yankees look to get their lethal offense in gear again when they host the Houston Astros on Thursday night for a critical Game 4 of the American League Championship Series after Wednesday’s scheduled contest was postponed by rain. The Yankees led the majors in runs scored during the regular season, but managed three over the last 20 innings while leaving 16 runners on base and suddenly find themselves down two games to one.

Gleyber Torres provided New York’s only run in a 4-1 setback Tuesday as he launched a solo homer for his third blast of the postseason and 10th RBI, but the Yankees could use more from Gary Sanchez (1-for-13, six strikeouts in the series), who told reporters through an interpreter: “I’m fighting to get back on track.” The rainout gives New York a chance to turn back to ace Masahiro Tanaka, who held Houston to one hit over six scoreless innings during Game 1, and fellow right-hander Zack Greinke is slated to return to the mound for the Astros after giving up three runs over six frames in the 7-0 loss against the Yankees on Saturday. “Whatever happens, happens, and we’ve just got to roll with the punches and keep battling,” Houston third baseman Alex Bregman told mlb.com. “Keep fighting and keep playing our brand of baseball.” Former MVP Jose Altuve had one of two home runs for the Astros in Tuesday’s win and has hit safely in all eight postseason games, going 12-for-32 with four longballs, two doubles, two walks, six runs scored and six RBIs.

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

PITCHING MATCHUP: Astros RH Zack Greinke (0-2, 8.38 ERA) vs. Yankees RH Masahiro Tanaka (2-0, 0.82)

Greinke has served up five homers in two postseason starts after Torres and Giancarlo Stanton went deep against him in the Game 1 loss, among seven hits allowed. The 35-year-old, who went 8-1 with 3.02 ERA in 10 starts with Houston during the regular season after being acquired at the trade deadline, is 3-6 in 13 postseason starts - 0-3 since 2015. DJ LeMahieu, who was 1-for-3 against Greinke in Game 1, has a homer and eight RBIs in 58 regular season at-bats versus the Florida native.

Tanaka has been outstanding in the postseason while allowing one run across five innings with seven strikeouts against Minnesota in the ALDS before striking out four versus Houston. The 30-year-old native of Japan was inconsistent during the regular season (11-9, 4.45 ERA), but permitted only three runs over 12 innings against the Astros. Altuve and Carlos Correa have each homered twice in their careers against Tanaka, who is 5-2 with a 1.32 ERA in seven playoff games - 2-2, 1.50 versus the Astros.

WALK-OFFS

1. Houston LF Michael Brantley is 6-for-16 in the last four games after going 2-for-16 in the first four of the playoffs.

2. Stanton, who was 2-for-4 in Game 1, missed the last two contests with a right quad strain and is day-to-day.

3. Astros RHP Roberto Osuna earned his first save of the postseason Wednesday and has retired all eight batters he faced in the series.

PREDICTION: Yankees 5, Astros 2

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