New York Yankees: The key to beating the Houston Astros in the ALCS

Taking on the Houston Astros will be a far more difficult challenge for the New York Yankees in the ALCS. They managed to sweep the Minnesota Twins with ease in just three games, as their starting pitching stepped up to the plate and run production was as efficient as ever.

The New York Yankees need to carry their efforts in the ALCS:

The Yankees earned 23 runs over the three-game span and only allowed seven, which attest to their dominance in all facets of the game.

However, the Astros will be more difficult, especially at home. The three-person rotation of Justin Verlander, Gerrit Cole, and Zack Greinke are incredibly intimidating. Their three starters are far better than the Yankees’ James Paxton, Masahiro Tanaka, and Luis Severino.

The ultimate key for the Yankees in the ALCS is having their starters go more than four innings. Former Bronx Bomber, Alex Rodriguez, broke down why this is so important and how the starting pitching will be the difference between winning and losing for the Yankees.

“No, absolutely not,” A-Rod said. “What works in this long season, which is a marathon, and what works in seven games is another. If the Yankees average four innings a starter again, they will go home. They need 5, 5 1/3 and 6 would be ideal because you 27 outs sometimes for six or seven games.”

The Yankees will start the series on Saturday night in Houston, and they will face cranky, who got torn apart in game three of the ALDS against the Tampa Bay rays. Rodriguez called this game a goliath first goliath series. The similarities between two teams not only offers one of the more exciting showdowns in the postseason, but either side has the forces to win the World Series. It could ultimately come down to who peaks at the right time and the momentum they have going into the second round of the playoffs.

“They can both play the high-low game,” he said. “They can hit home runs or contact or situational hitting. They’re both strong analytical. They have defense. They’re both athletic. They’re both smart and they’re all students of the game.