New York at Houston

In most eyes, the NY Yankees have arrived early to the playoffs. This season was supposed to be a rebuild, but the Yankees' young talent quickly came of age, and here they are in Houston for Game 1 of the ALCS. They have a tall order in Game 1 as they take on Dallas Keuchel. Keuchel has held the current Yankees roster in check over his career as the Bombers have fizzled out facing him, and are collectively 17-94 for a batting average of .181. Not a single Yankees projected starter owns a better than .273 average against him, and Judge, Bird, Gardner, and Sanchez have never gotten as much as a hit against him. New York counters with Masahiro Tanaka who is off a strong outing vs. Cleveland, but the current Astros roster is a combined 18-55 against him for a .327 average. Tanaka has been known to serve up HRs and in their 55 combined at bats against him Houston has swatted seven. This is a bigger pitching mismatch than what appears, so play on Houston on the runline.