Yankees at Astros
After bouncing back from their first loss in more than a week, the New York Yankees attempt to begin another winning streak when they visit the Houston Astros on Wednesday for the third contest of their four-game series. New York dropped a 2-1 decision in the opener and was locked in a scoreless battle for eight innings on Tuesday before scoring four times in the ninth for the victory.
Gary Sanchez provided the big blow, a three-run homer that helped lift the Yankees to their 10th win in 11 contests. The 25-year-old Sanchez, who went 2-for-4, has collected six RBIs in his last four games and 14 in his past nine. Houston managed only six hits as it fell to 4-4 on its 10-game homestand. Jose Altuve recorded one of them to extend his hitting streak to six games and give him at least one in 13 of his last 14 contests.
TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, ESPN, YES (New York), AT&T SportsNet Southwest (Houston)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Yankees RH Luis Severino (4-1, 2.61 ERA) vs. Astros LH Dallas Keuchel (1-4, 4.00)
Severino settled for a no-decision on the road against the Los Angeles Angels on Friday after allowing three runs and five hits in seven innings. The 24-year-old Dominican yielded one run and four hits over 13 frames in his previous two turns - both victories. Severino, who went 0-1 against Houston in two starts during the American League Championship Series last year, owns an identical 0-1 regular-season record and an 8.38 ERA versus the Astros in two starts and a relief appearance.
Keuchel's seven-inning outing against Oakland on Friday was like two games in one as he retired the first 13 batters he faced but wound up with the loss as he finished having surrendered six runs and seven hits, including three homers. The 30-year-old former Cy Young Award winner yielded a total of six runs in his previous three turns and hadn't given up more than three in any of his previous five outings this season. Keuchel split a pair of decisions against New York in the 2017 ALCS and is 4-2 with two complete games, a shutout and a sparkling 1.41 ERA in six career regular-season starts versus the Yankees.
WALK-OFFS
1. Yankees LHP Jordan Montgomery left Tuesday's start after one inning with elbow tightness and will return to New York to be evaluated by the team physician.
2. Altuve has gone hitless in only four of his 31 games this season.
3. New York 1B Tyler Austin returned to the lineup Tuesday after serving a four-game suspension and went 0-for-4.