Fansided

Yankees have tough road ahead in MLB playoffs

By Rucker Haringey

BOSTON, MA - AUGUST 04: Manger Aaron Boone of the New York Yankees looks inform the dugout before a game against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on August 4, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - AUGUST 04: Manger Aaron Boone of the New York Yankees looks inform the dugout before a game against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on August 4, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – AUGUST 04: Houston Astros pitcher Justin Verlander (35) talks with manager AJ Hinch during a MLB game between the Houston Astros and the Los Angeles Dodgers on August 4, 2018 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – AUGUST 04: Houston Astros pitcher Justin Verlander (35) talks with manager AJ Hinch during a MLB game between the Houston Astros and the Los Angeles Dodgers on August 4, 2018 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

2. Houston Astros

The Astros may not be playing great baseball at the moment, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t a deadly postseason team. They have four starting pitchers who could likely serve as an ace on the Yankees staff at the moment.

Justin Verlander, of course, is the crown jewel of the group. He’s got a ton of postseason experience to go along with his devastating repertoire of pitches. No team wants to face him in October.

It doesn’t get much easier after he makes his start to open a series. Houston is blessed with amazing depth in their rotation. Gerrit Cole is only slightly behind Verlander in terms of stuff and performance. Dallas Keuchel and Charlie Morton are both having great years as well. The Astros have four legitimate aces in their potential postseason rotation.

In terms of their lineup, they resemble the Indians a little bit with their dependence on big time stars. Jose Altuve and Alex Bregman are both excellent. Things get a little weaker after them in the order though. Again, the Yankees would likely try to pitch around those guys to make some of Houston’s lesser hitters beat them.

Don’t be confused in the slightest by Houston’s current slump. All this team needs to do is make the playoffs if they want to win a title. Their excellent starting staff makes them a favorite against almost anyone in the American League.

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