ALCS Predictions: Who Will Win Heavyweight Matchup Between the Yankees and Astros?
In a matchup between the game's two best teams, the Yankees and Astros will square off in a best-of-seven bout for a spot in the World Series. It's the series baseball wanted. It's the series baseball needed. It's the series baseball is getting.
SI's MLB staff weighs in on how the heavyweight matchup will play out.
Tom Verducci: Astros over Yankees (seven games)
It's hard to imagine these teams won't need a Game 7. And if we get there, the Astros are at home (where they are 63-21) and they have Gerrit Cole on the mound–the LCS MVP to be. The Yankees will score plenty of runs in this back-and-forth series, though.
MVP: Gerrit Cole
Stephanie Apstein: Yankees over Astros (seven games)
Houston is probably a better team, but it had to extend its pitching in the ALDS in a way New York didn't.
MVP: Aaron Judge
Emma Baccellieri: Astros over Yankees (six games)
These two teams match up so well that it's easily possible to see this one going either way—but Houston's rotation is terrifying enough to give them an edge.
MVP: George Springer
Connor Grossman: Astros over Yankees (six games)
Here's to this series living up to the hype: home runs galore, elite pitching, bullpen (mis)management, tight games and walk-offs. This is the series most have been waiting and hoping for all year. Let's go.
MVP: Alex Bregman
Matt Martell: Yankees over Astros (seven games)
This Yankees team is different than the one that lost to the Astros in the 2017 ALCS. These Yankees don't rely only on home runs to score. In their three-game ALDS sweep of the Twins, they hit five dingers, four of which were solo shots (the other a Didi Gregorius grand slam). Yet, they scored 23 runs on 29 hits.
MVP: Gleyber Torres
Michael Shapiro: Astros over Yankees (five games)
The Astros won't lose a home game this postseason. Add Gerrit Cole on the road in Game 3, and New York could be in line for a gentleman's sweep. We may look back at this Houston squad as the best team (so far) this century.
MVP: Jose Altuve
