New York @ Texas preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 27, 2019 ) NY Yankees 14, Texas 7

Luis Severino makes another postseason tune-up when he gets the start for the New York Yankees on Saturday in the second of a three-game series at the Texas Rangers. The 25-year-old Severino has looked fantastic in two starts since missing the first five-plus months of the season with a rotator cuff issue, spinning nine scoreless innings in a pair of outings at home.

He remains a candidate to start Game 1 of the upcoming American League Division Series against the Minnesota Twins, especially after lefty James Paxton left Friday's series opener with glute tightness. Eight relievers picked up the slack following Paxton's departure and six different Yankees homered in a 14-7 win, pushing New York's major league record for home runs in a season to 305. It will attempt to add to that remarkable total against opener Luke Farrell and a Texas staff that has given up 12 homers through the first four games of its final homestand at Globe Life Park. Danny Santana had one of the Rangers' three blasts Friday night, his third during a six-game hitting streak.

TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, YES (New York), FS Southwest (Texas)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Yankees RH Luis Severino (1-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. Rangers RH Luke Farrell (1-0, 2.38)

Severino has yielded a total of five hits and two walks while striking out 13 in his nine innings thus far. He is 0-1 with a 6.30 ERA in two career starts against the Rangers - both on the road. Nomar Mazara is 2-for-4 with a walk against the Dominican Republic native, who is 34-14 over the past three seasons.

Farrell will be making his first start of the year and his ninth appearance overall. He has allowed one run in seven innings over his last six outings, beginning with a perfect inning and two strikeouts at Yankee Stadium on Sept. 4. Ariel Jurado, who threw 53 pitches in relief Tuesday against Boston, is a candidate to eat up some innings in relief.

WALK-OFFS

1. Yankees OF Brett Gardner hit his 28th home run Friday and his 10th in September.

2. Rangers 2B Rougned Odor was 0-for-4 with three strikeouts Friday and has fanned nine times in the last four games.

3. New York's 103 wins is tied for seventh-most in franchise history.

PREDICTION: Yankees 7, Rangers 3