The approach Yankees must take in crucial ALCS Game 4 - New York Post

Forget Justin Verlander and Gerrit Cole lurking in the near future, because that would be akin to putting the hangover ahead of swallowing an ocean of big-bubbled champagne.

Trailing the Astros, 2-1, in the best-of-seven ALCS, the Yankees need to find a way to beat Zack Greinke in Thursday’s Game 4 in the same manner they did when they copped a 7-0 victory in Houston to open the series.

It was viewed as a launching point for the Yankees, who could have grabbed a commanding 2-0 lead in Game 2, which didn’t happen thanks to a 3-2 loss in 11 innings. The Astros followed that with a 4-1 win at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday in Game 3.

Without a win Thursday night in The Bronx — following Wednesday’s postponement because of rain — the odds of the Yankees advancing to the World Series for the first time since 2009 become extremely long because Verlander and Cole will be ready to go on regular rest in Games 5 and 7.

So, after winning 103 regular-season games, cruising to the AL East title for the first time in seven years, sweeping the Twins out of the ALDS in three games and pounding the Astros in Game 1 at Minute Maid Park where the hosts went a MLB-best 60-21, this is what the Yankees’ 2019 season comes down to: a must-win in a non-elimination situation.

That they have Masahiro Tanaka starting against Greinke has to inject a grown-up dose of confidence after Tanaka blanked the Astros and allowed one hit in Game 1 when he went six innings. In four postseason starts at Yankee Stadium, Tanaka is 3-1 with a 1.13 ERA. Overall he is 5-2 with a 1.32 ERA in seven postseason assignments.

Yankees take on the Astros on Thursday night.Robert Sabo

Based on beating him in Game 1, seeing Greinke might give the Yankees a mental boost but that could qualify as getting what you wish for.

Yes, Greinke’s two postseason outings (0-2, 8.39 ERA) this October haven’t been good and his career stats in the postseason (3-6, 4.58 ERA in 13 starts) are poor, but he was 8-1 with a 3.02 ERA in 10 starts for the Astros after being acquired from the Diamondbacks on July 31.

“He doesn’t have the stuff of Verlander or Cole, but he is good at mixing and locating,’’ said an NL talent evaluator who was on hand for Game 1. “What happened the other night was he didn’t execute pitches.’’

Considering the amount of limp wood in the Yankees’ lineup, Greinke might get away with the sins in Game 4 that he didn’t in Game 1, when he allowed three runs and seven hits (two homers) in six innings.

Gary Sanchez has two hits in his past 21 at-bats and has struck out 10 times. Edwin Encarnacion is 1-for-18, Didi Gregorius 1-for-12, Brett Gardner 2-for-13 and Gio Urshela is 2-for-11. That is a combined 8-for-75 (.107).

The most disturbing member of the Dead Bat Society is Sanchez, but manager Aaron Boone isn’t going to swap him for Austin Romine and praised the catcher for his defensive work while believing his bat will come alive.

“Let’s start with the other side of the ball, which completely gets lost in this,” Boone said. “And without sugarcoating at all, he’s been excellent behind the plate from a game-calling standpoint, from a game-plan target, receiving.”

Switching to the bat, Boone is betting on it coming out of the icebox.

“Just knowing how talented of an offensive player he is, I always feel like he’s a pitch away or an at-bat away from really getting locked in and changing the course of a game,’’ Boone said. “So clearly he hasn’t been at his best offensively but with a guy as talented as he is, I think that’s right around the corner always.’’

That corner has arrived and it’s a hairpin deal labeled “Game 4” for not only Sanchez but everybody else in the Yankees’ organization.

Let's block ads! (Why?)