Astros at Yankees
Gleyber Torres looks to build off his latest clutch performance as the New York Yankees (34-17) vie for their second series victory against the visiting Houston Astros (35-21) this season in the finale of their three-game set on Wednesday. Torres, who was named the American League Player of the Week earlier on Tuesday, ended the night with an RBI single in the 10th inning of a 6-5 triumph.
Torres has three hits in the series and is 10-for-28 with five homers and 11 RBIs in his last eight games for New York, which overcame a five-error, 17-strikeout performance to post its third win in seven outings. Brett Gardner highlighted a four-hit performance with a pair of homers -- including a two-run shot in the ninth inning -- to give him 22 hits in his last 15 games to boost his batting average from .198 to .256. Houston's Marwin Gonzalez collected his second straight two-hit performance of the series after going 2-for-13 with seven strikeouts in the previous set versus New York. The 29-year-old has enjoyed some success in his career against Wednesday starter Luis Severino, going 2-for-7 with a homer and three RBIs.
TV: 6:35 p.m. ET, ESPN, AT&T SportsNet-Southwest (Houston), YES (New York)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Astros LH Dallas Keuchel (3-6, 3.39 ERA) vs. Yankees RH Luis Severino (7-1, 2.28)
Keuchel pitched well on Friday by allowing two runs in six innings but was in line for the loss before Houston erupted for 11 runs against Cleveland's bullpen. The 2015 AL Cy Young Award winner has struggled to consistency find the winner's circle despite posting a 1.17 WHIP while limiting the opposition to a .239 batting average this season. Keuchel fell to 4-3 in his career against the Yankees after surrendering a pair of homers and three runs total over seven innings in a 4-0 defeat on May 2.
Severino got the better of Keuchel in that May 2 outing after highlighting his complete-game gem by striking out 10 and scattering five hits. That sterling effort is part of a 5-0 surge with a 1.87 ERA in his last eight outings. George Springer is just 1-for-10 with five strikeouts versus Severino, although the hurler has struggled mightily against Yuri Gurriel (5-for-9).
WALK-OFFS
1. New York has scored 11 runs in 12 1/3 innings against Houston relievers this season, as opposed to 11 runs in 42 1/3 frames versus its starters.
2. Astros DH Evan Gattis has three homers in his last three games and nine RBIs and seven runs scored in his last five overall.
3. Yankees C Gary Sanchez is 0-for-16 with seven strikeouts in his last four contests.