New York Yankees: Game three could be a must-win
By Ben Fadden
With the Houston Astros armed with Gerrit Cole and Justin Verlander at home for Games 6 and 7, it might turn out to be a must-win for the New York Yankees in Game 3.
The New York Yankees looked great in Game 1 but then failed to cash in on opportunities in Game 2. I know that it may seem too early to deem Game 3 a must-win for the New York Yankees but it could turn out to be one.
The Yankees did what they went into Houston to do which was split the series. But they had the chance to go up 2-0 in the series and failed to do so. And now the momentum is swinging Houston’s way, especially with Gerrit Cole on the mound.
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It is always tough to say a game is a must-win against a guy like Cole but it just feels like we are going to look back at Game 3 and say “the Yankees had to win that game.”
The way Aaron Boone used his pitcher’s last game would certainly concern me, especially when Adam Ottavino isn’t on his game.
It seemed like he was going out to the mound every couple of batters, and if he continues to that if one of his starters doesn’t go deep into a game then he is going to be in trouble.
I know for a fact that the more he goes to the bullpen, then the better of a chance there is for one of them to struggle, which could result in a Game 3 loss.
While New York has a deeper bullpen, Houston has the starting pitching to combat it, which could actually set them up better if the series goes deep with Verlander and Cole on the mound at home.
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I think Game 3 is a must-win for the New York Yankees because if they go down 2-1, then they are forced to win the next two games at home for me to be confident that they can go win one game at Houston with A.J. Hinch’s two horses on the mound in back-to-back games.