Call to the pen
Fansided

New York Yankees: Luis Severino, Giancarlo Stanton x-factors

By Ben Fadden

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - OCTOBER 07: Luis Severino #40 of the New York Yankees reacts after striking out Jake Cave #60 of the Minnesota Twins with the bases loaded in the second inning of game three of the American League Division Series at Target Field on October 07, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - OCTOBER 07: Luis Severino #40 of the New York Yankees reacts after striking out Jake Cave #60 of the Minnesota Twins with the bases loaded in the second inning of game three of the American League Division Series at Target Field on October 07, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

The Houston Astros will give the New York Yankees a run for their money, so Luis Severino and Giancarlo Stanton will be X-factors for the Bronx Bombers in the ALCS.

The New York Yankees had a very easy sweep vs the Minnesota Twins in the ALDS, but two guys, in particular, were not as dominant as they should have been.

Here are the two X-Factors for the Yankees if they wish to defeat Houston in the Championship Series.

Luis Severino

As I mentioned, the Yankees swept the Twins so they obviously won Game 3 in Minnesota, but Luis Severino only went 4 innings, which left the bullpen with the task of pitching more than half of the game to finish the Twins.

More from Call to the Pen

When you get into a long series like the ALCS, and especially when you are facing a deep lineup like the Houston Astros, you need your starters to go deeper into games to save your bullpen so they are able to be as effective as they were in the early games in Games 6 and 7.

Severino is also facing Gerrit Cole in Game 3 in the Bronx, so it is paramount for him to try as best as he can to pitch at least into the 6th to try to match Cole as much as possible.

Giancarlo Stanton

In Game 1, there was a runner on third base in a 3-0 count and Giancarlo Stanton rolled a ground ball to third to end the inning.

Well, the Yankees will not be able to afford those mistakes this series. He is going to have to take smarter at-bats in the ALCS because the offense is going to need as many runs as possible against a great rotation and a lineup like the Astros.

Stanton went 1-11 in their first three games, so he will need to have more success for the Yankees to take a lead in Houston.

dark. Next. Yankees keys to winning ALCS

Luis Severino and Giancarlo Stanton will be key if the New York Yankees will upset the Houston Astros in the ALCS.

Home/New York Yankees