2019 MLB – ALCS Game 5 - Houston Astros @ New York Yankees Preview & Prediction
THE FACTS
When is Houston Astros @ New York Yankees taking place? Saturday 19th October, 2019 – 00:08 (UK)
Where is Houston Astros @ New York Yankees taking place? Yankee Stadium
What is the expected weather for Houston Astros @ New York Yankees? Clear, 11c
What television channel is Houston Astros @ New York Yankees on? BT Sport 1 in the UK / FOX, FOX-INT in the US
Where can I stream Houston Astros @ New York Yankees? BT Sport subscribers can stream the match live via the BT Sport website or app in the UK / MLB.tv in the US
Where can I get tickets for Houston Astros @ New York Yankees? https://www.mlb.com/tickets/season-tickets
What was the outcome in the last meeting? Houston Astros 8 – 3 New York Yankees
THE TEAM NEWS
HOUSTON ASTROS
- What a comeback from the Astros, bouncing back as they have from a loss in Game 1 of the ALCS to put themselves 3-1 up following a second consecutive win at Yankee Stadium. Just like it happened in Game 3, the home runs were key for Houston with three-run from both George Springer and Carlos Correa lifting the Astros one step closer towards reaching the World Series for the second time in the last three years. Their bats have woken up in the ALCS, as they have averaged 5.0 runs per game in their last three contests.
- The Astros do not have injury concerns entering this game, and they have remained healthy during the entire postseason. Jose Altuve continues to dazzle offensively hitting .353 with a .918 OPS, but George Springer deserves a mention after his Game 4 milestone – his 13th postseason home run established a franchise record. Springer and Carlos Correa have hit home runs in the same playoff game six times, and that’s an all-time MLB record.
- Justin Verlander will get the start for the Astros in Game 5 as he will look to carry the Astros to the World Series with a win here. He allowed just two runs in 6 2/3 innings during his previous ALCS start, and he has had quite a lot of success pitching in the playoffs against the Yankees. The right-hander, who went 21-6 with a 2.58 ERA during the regular season, has a 1.19 ERA and 28 strikeouts in three postseason starts against the Yankees playing for Houston.
NEW YORK YANKEES
- The Yankees arrived to Yankee Stadium with a lot of confidence after stealing a win at Minute Maid Park, but things have changed considerably and now they are 27 outs away from elimination following back-to-back losses at home – something quite odd considering the Yankees went 59-22 at Yankee Stadium during the 2019 regular season. They have looked lifeless offensively of late, notching just six runs combined in the last three games after scoring seven in Game 1 alone.
- Giancarlo Stanton remains out with a quad injury and while he could be available for pinch-hitting duties, manager Aaron Boone does not want to risk him. Considering what is at stake, however, he could very well return to the lineup in Game 5 just to give him extra at-bats. Gleyber Torres went 0-for-5 in Game 4, but Gary Sanchez left his mark with a two-run home run – he entered this game with only one hit in the previous three games of the series. Edwin Encarnacion continues to struggle, and he’s hitting just .067 after a 0-for-3 night in Game 4.
- Lefty James Paxton will get the ball for Game 5, as scheduled by Boone when Game 4 was rained out. Paxton, who only lasted 2 1/3 innings during his previous ALCS start, will need to be at his best here. He went 7-3 with a 3.35 ERA in 15 home starts during the 2019 regular season.
THE PREDICTION
The Yankees must wake up, but so far neither their pitching nor their hitting has performed according to expectations. The Astros seem to be getting hotter and hotter as games go on and, to make things even worst for New York, they will have Verlander on the mound. The Yankees will battle hard to avoid elimination, but the Astros should be able to close things out with a third straight win at Yankee Stadium.
