With a 2-0 lead in the American League Championship Series, the Houston Astros are on their way to their first away game at the New York Yankees.Both teams are relaxed – the situation is not new for the Yankees in particular.But how do you get the offense going?SPOX shows game 3 of the ALCS at night from 2 o’ clock in the LIVESTREAM FOR FREE.
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Haven’t we already had it all?
In view of their difficult situation in the ALCS, one could almost speak of a deja-vu in the Yankees: it’s hardly a week ago, when the team with the striking pinstripes on their uniform also traveled back to the Big Apple with two defeats in their luggage.No trick had been taken away from a favorite opponent with over 100 wins in the regular season, and game 2 had even been lost in an extremely bitter way.After the bankruptcy on Saturday against the Astros, the parallels are obvious.
The difference?In the Division Series’ best-of-five format, they were up against the Cleveland Indians before the first home game, with their backs completely up against the wall.Against Houston, you might even be able to afford another defeat.And even at 0-3, a best-of-seven series in the MLB would still not be decided.No one knows that better than the Yankees themselves.
Of course, it is not something you want to let come to.And if you’ve won a cognition in New York City from the duel against the Indians, it’s this: A 0-2 is no reason to panic.
“This team has always been calm and calm throughout the season, no matter how it went,”says Pitcher C. C.Sabathia.The massive Lefty will open Game 3 at the sold-out Yankee Stadium, with 20 postseason starts to his heart’s content:”This was also the case in this play-off run.The boys are extremely grown-up for their age.You don’t have to make big speeches.”
The faith of the 37-year-old and the sometimes extremely young line-up behind him is unshakable.Eventually, they won against the Indians, the big favourite on reaching the World Series, three games in a row – two of them against Cy-young favorite Corey Kluber.Adding the Wild Card Game against the Minnesota Twins and Max Kepler, the Yankees have won four elimination games in a row.
The series against Houston could turn around fast.After all, there was not much missing in the two 1-2 defeats.One victory and suddenly the situation looks much better with two more home games coming up “It only takes a little spark to get us going,”emphasized Third Baseman Todd Frazier.
MVP candidate Aaron Judge is expected to spark this spark.Sabathia (two earned runs in each of the games against Cleveland) should at least show a solid performance as an old hand, behind it is a well-rested, high-calibre Bullpen.But pitching wasn’t the problem in Maid Park’s minute either.
The offense of the Bronx Bombers is obligatory.In match 1 and 2, the team, in the regular season extremely homerun-friendly, won 27 strikeouts in 63 at-bats.AL-Homerun-King Judge, for example, is in crisis.Against breaking balls, i. e. pitches with reduced speed and high rotation, which break away at the last moment, he does not see any land at all at the moment (3 of 20,14 strikeouts).The pitcher took advantage of this during this postseason and served him record-breaking 56 percent off-speed pitches.Almost always deep and outward. 42 times he has swung against such a pitch – 28 times he swung over completely.
“The pitcher’s really played good pitches against him.They know that they have to be very cautious against him, and that’s what they are,”said manager Joe Giradi, protecting his Slugger,”which is why there are some walks with him,” and Houston can live well with that, but the dreaded stick of the 2.01-meter-hen remains silent.But he has to be careful not to break the playoff-strikeout record in his first postseason.Alfonso Soriano holds it with 26 strikeouts, Judge is already at 19 K’s.
It would be wrong to fix the problems with Judge alone, as his team mates are not doing much better.Catcher Gary Sanchez (2-20,12 strikeouts in the last five games) beat 33 home runs in 122 games in the regular season.In the last five games he has just managed to get a run home.
And, more importantly, Houston’s aces are behind you.Dallas Keuchel and Justin Verlander pitched excellently in both games 1 and 2, but at some point the normal mortals will have to play as well.
In match 3, the Charlie Morton will be in play 3. The 33-year-old made 25 starts for the Astros in the regular season, with a manageable ERA of 3.62, but good strikeout odds.The Yankees looked quite well against him in the past, and it will be only the third post-season start of his career.Not an easy task in front of 48,000 spectators at the Yankee Stadium.
This is one of the reasons why the guests enjoy healthy respect.People know about the comeback qualities of the Yankees.Manager A. J.Meanwhile, Hinch is blowing in the same horn as his opponent: Primetime in the Big Apple?We were the quietest team in this postseason.The games so far show that we can concentrate on the point.”
After all, stars like Jose Altuve, Carlos Correa or George Springer have good memories of their opponent’s impressive home ground: Two years ago, they competed in the Wild Card Game – and produced the Yankees with 3-0.”There aren’t that many players left from those days,”said Keuchel, who played six scoreless innings at the time,”but on the other hand, we’ve become even stronger in the meantime,” he said.
The two opponents therefore rely on their own strength.The two home victories would not have been a better start for Houston, even if starting pitcher in game 3 would not have won the match.But one stands aggressively clearly better there.There will never be any host gifts, Hinch knows:”The Yankees will certainly not be able to pull out the sails on their own.That’s what they saw against the Indians.”
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