The New York Yankees are going to give the Houston Astros a run for their money, so Zack Greinke and George Springer will need to step up in the ALCS.
Everyone has been waiting for a New York Yankees–Houston Astros American League Championship Series, and they are finally getting it.
There are stars on both sides–Alex Bregman, Jose Altuve, Gerrit Cole, Aaron Judge, Gleyber Torres, and Gary Sanchez— so the only way the Astros can take care of the Yankees is by some surprise players stepping up in a big way.
I think there are going to be a couple of players that will be key if Houston does win the AL pennant.
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Zack Greinke: I know that you may be thinking that Zack Greinke isn’t an X-Factor because he is a great pitcher, but the way he struggled in the Division Series, he fits this role.
In Game three at The Trop, he didn’t make it out of the 4th inning, as he gave up 6 ER including 3 HR. The big concern for me with Greinke’s performance wasn’t him giving up 6 runs. The Rays are under the radar but great team and you’re going to give up runs but the key for his next start is limiting the home runs on pitches up in the zone.
He is pitching Game 1 against Masahiro Tanaka, and then at least another game in the series, so in order for the Astros to have the success he is going to have to limit the runs by the gauntlet that is the Yankees.
George Springer: Again, George Springer is a great player and is at the top of A.J. Hinch’s lineup on a daily basis, but he struggled in the Division Series, so in order for the Houston Astros to get on the board early he is going to have to get on base for the big boys to hit him in.
He went a combined 3-22 in the 5-game series against Tampa and that is not going to fly against teams that have good all-around pitching as New York does.
Springer and Greinke are X-factors that could decide if they move onto their second World Series appearance in three years.