NY Yankees (2-3) at Houston (3-2)
When: Saturday, October 19th 2019
Where: Minute Maid Park,
Houston, Texas
Time: 8:08 ET | TV: FS1
Opening Odds: OFF
The New York Yankees got a hard-fought six innings from James Paxton on Friday night in helping extend the American League Championship Series with the Houston Astros to a Game 6 on Saturday. DJ LeMahieu and Aaron Hicks hit first-inning homers off Justin Verlander, and New York beat Houston 4-1 to stave off elimination. The Astros still lead the best-of-seven series 3-2 and Game 6 will begin less than 24 hours from the end of Game 5 and all the way back at Minute Maid Park in Houston because the teams lost the travel day due to a rainout on Wednesday. LeMahieu hit a leadoff homer to tie the game 1-1 in the bottom of the first, and Hicks followed four batters later with a three-run homer to complete the scoring for the night. Paxton allowed one run and four hits, struck out nine and walked four while throwing a season-high 112 pitches. Paxton stranded seven runners in six high-pressure innings. Tommy Kahnle, Zack Britton and Aroldis Chapman combined on three scoreless innings. Verlander allowed four runs on five hits in seven innings and retired 20 of the final 21 hitters he faced. Game 6 will feature the bullpens from both teams, while it appears Houston will keep Gerrit Cole available for a possible Game 7 and New York doing the same with Luis Severino. Teams going home holding a 3-2 series lead in a 2-3-2 format win the series 76 percent of the time.
Possible Starters: Yankees – Chad Green (1-0, 3.18 ERA) | Astros – Jose Urquidy (0-0, 0.00)
The logical choice to start a bullpen game for New York would be Chad Green, who did it 15 times during the regular season and has allowed one run in 5.2 innings over five appearances so far during the postseason. Another option would be J.A. Happ, who started 30 games during the regular season but made both of his postseason appearances as a reliever. The trio of Tommy Kahnle, Zack Britton and Aroldis Chapman will be ready to hopefully finish things off and force a Game 7.
Jose Urquidy and Brad Peacock are the two best options for Houston, but the latter hasn’t pitched since September 29th. Urquidy struck out three over 1.2 scoreless innings at Tampa Bay on October 8th, but started seven games during the regular season. Will Harris, Josh James, Bryan Abreu and others will be the options after that.
New York has more experience in ‘bullpen’ games, going 12-5 during the regular season, while Houston was 0-2. New York already has a win in Houston this series and they bring the momentum back with them. Maybe I’m just selfish and want a Game 7, but I’ll take the Yankees here.
Check out who Bobby Babowski has on his Free MLB Picks page for Saturday. He finished 135-95 +2686 units in the regular season!
Pick: Yankees +130
BETTING TRENDS:
Yankees are 42-17 in their last 59 Saturday games.
Yankees are 62-27 in their last 89 games on grass.
Yankees are 25-12 in their last 37 when their opponent scores 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Yankees are 35-17 in their last 52 after allowing 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Yankees are 2-5 in their last 7 vs. American League West.
Yankees are 6-15 in their last 21 League Championship games.
Yankees are 4-11 in their last 15 playoff road games.
Yankees are 3-13 in their last 16 League Championship road games.
Astros are 7-0 in their last 7 after scoring 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Astros are 8-1 in their last 9 when their opponent allows 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Astros are 5-1 in their last 6 games following a loss.
Astros are 4-1 in their last 5 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
Astros are 4-1 in their last 5 playoff home games.
Astros are 39-12 in their last 51 home games.
Astros are 52-19 in their last 71 games on grass.
Astros are 37-14 in their last 51 Saturday games.
Astros are 54-22 in their last 76 overall.
Astros are 1-4 in their last 5 League Championship home games.
Under is 4-0 in Yankees last 4 road games.
Under is 4-0 in Yankees last 4 playoff road games.
Under is 4-0 in Yankees last 4 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
Under is 4-0 in Yankees last 4 after allowing 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Under is 5-1 in Yankees last 6 overall.
Under is 5-1 in Yankees last 6 League Championship road games.
Under is 5-1 in Yankees last 6 on grass.
Under is 5-1 in Yankees last 6 playoff games.
Under is 5-1 in Yankees last 6 vs. American League West.
Under is 5-1 in Yankees last 6 League Championship games.
Under is 4-1 in Yankees last 5 when their opponent scores 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Under is 18-7-1 in Yankees last 26 vs. a team with a winning record.
Under is 16-7-1 in Yankees last 24 games following a win.
Under is 3-0-1 in Astros last 4 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
Under is 3-0-1 in Astros last 4 playoff home games.
Under is 3-0-1 in Astros last 4 home games.
Under is 3-0-1 in Astros last 4 games following a loss.
Under is 5-1-1 in Astros last 7 overall.
Under is 5-1-1 in Astros last 7 on grass.
Under is 5-1-1 in Astros last 7 playoff games.
Under is 5-1-1 in Astros last 7 vs. American League East.
Under is 5-1 in Astros last 6 League Championship games.
Under is 4-1 in Astros last 5 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Over is 12-4-1 in Astros last 17 after scoring 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Under is 3-1-1 in Astros last 5 when their opponent allows 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Under is 5-2-1 in Astros last 8 Saturday games.
Under is 9-4 in Astros last 13 League Championship home games.
Under is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings.
Under is 7-3 in the last 10 meetings in Houston.
Yankees are 1-4 in the last 5 meetings in Houston.
