The Houston Astros will try to gain some measure of dignity against the New York Yankees, for three games at Yankee Stadium.
Tonight at 6:05 PM CT, the Yankees will host the Astros in the first of three games to close out the season series.
Houston and New York opened the season with four games at Minute Maid Park, with the Bombers sweeping with an aggregate 21-11 score. It’s the second series in a row in which the Yankees swept Houston, going back to the three-game set last September. To find a Houston win over the Yankees, you’ll need to go all the way back to August 6th, when the two teams split four games. Houston concluded the set with a 9-7 victory. J.P. France (8-3, 2.75) earned the victory in relief, striking out four and giving up an unearned run over 3 1⁄3 innings. Bryan Abreu earned his fourth save of the season. Jake Meyers did most of the damage with two home runs, good for six of Houston’s RBI. The rest of the team went four-for-29, as Houston pulled away despite getting outhit, 8-to-6.
Trying to put a good swing on pitches over the middle, and I think the situations kind of dictated me trying to get the ball in the air and that kind of helped me out. — Meyers
The Yankees also swept their last opponent in three games, in a home series against the Detroit Tigers. Oswaldo Cabrera and Aaron Judge led New York’s offense with a pair of hits each, including Judge’s seventh tater of the campaign. Victor González (2-1, 2.25) earned the win despite only tossing four pitches.
It’s fun going back and forth. I got him the first time, then he comes back and strikes me out, and I was like, ‘All right, I’ll remember that.’ It’s fun competing against guys like that, especially a young ace of the team. I’m looking forward to more battles with him, that’s for sure. — Judge, on Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal
The Astros just finished a three-game series against the Seattle Mariners, winning the opener before dropping the final two. In tennis parlance, the M’s took the set, 3-5, 5-0, 5-4. In the final game, Kyle Tucker (9) and Jon Singleton (3) went deep, and Bryan Abreu took the loss, blowing a save for the ninth time in 12 opportunities for the team so far this season.
Because that’s kind of the way you plan for the game, and you get there and you’ve got the guys you believe in, and I keep believing in those guys because those guys are really good. We’ve just got to get the job done and put guys away. We’re better than that. — Joe Espada
Historically, Houston’s .405 winning percentage against the Yankees is their worst against any team. Their 32 regular season wins are their least against any team as well. Only when you factor in Houston’s stellar 13-5 postseason record does their head-to-head play with the Bombers avoid embarrassment.
GameTimes and Starting Pitchers
Tuesday, 6:05 PM CT — Justin Verlander (1-0, 2.08) vs. Luis Gil (2-1, 3.19)
Wednesday, 6:05 PM CT — Spencer Arrighetti (0-3, 8.27) vs. Carlos Rodón (2-2, 3.68)
Thursday, 4:05 PM CT — Ronel Blanco (3-0, 2.09) vs. Marcus Stroman (2-1, 3.41)