3 reasons the Yankees can still beat the Astros

2. Yankees still have a deeper bullpen.

The Yankees have a unique ability to shorten any game they play because their bullpen is so deep. Right now they’re really only throwing three guys between David Robertson, Tommy Kahnle and Aroldis Chapman. “Super reliever” Chad Green has only thrown 2 1/3 innings since his Wild Card appearance, Dellin Betances has only thrown three innings and Adam Warren has thrown all of one inning this postseason.

That’s six guys that have been utilized essentially all regular season, and all six of them have been very good. It’s the very reason people think the Yankees have the best bullpen in baseball. For various reasons, whether it’s whoever has the hot hand, how high the leverage is in any given scenario or just more trust in a certain guy, Girardi has gone back to the well over and over with Robertson, Kahnle and Chapman this postseason.

Robertson is only one of three remaining guys from the Yankees 2009 World Series title, and he’s sure pitching like he wants to get there again. He’s already had one appearance where he threw 3 1/3 innings in the Wild Card game and since Aug. 24, including the postseason, he’s given up a grand total of one run.

You really have to credit how well the Yankees relievers have adjusted to Houston as well. During the regular season, the Astros only struck out 1,087 times which was the best in baseball and 66 fewer than the next closest team, which happens to be the team the Yankees beat in the ALDS: the Cleveland Indians.

The Yankees bullpen has a guy for any and every scenario and they don’t have to use a starter out of their bullpen unless they were to play a 16-plus inning game. That puts them at a huge advantage over the Astros who are only about three guys, not including the starters they’ve used out of the pen.