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NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 30: Masahiro Tanaka #19 of the New York Yankees reacts after giving up a three run home run to Travis Shaw of the Boston Red Sox in the first inning on September 30, 2015 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

Wild Card Game Preview (10/6/15)

Playoff baseball is back in the Bronx thanks to the Diamondbacks beating the Astros on Sunday (this doesn’t make up for 2001 though!) Girardi will hand the ball to Masahiro Tanaka (12-7, 3.51 ERA) to take on Dallas Keuchel (20-8, 2.48 ERA) in the do or die game. Tanaka missed a start due to a hamstring strain, but was back in time to make his last start of the regular season against Boston. He gave up four runs on five hits through five innings taking a no decision. He faced Houston on June 27, taking a no decision giving up six runs on seven hits (three homers) through five innings.

Keuchel will be pitching on three days rest after earning his 20th win of the season against Arizona. He allowed two runs on six hits through six innings. He was 2-0 in his 2 starts against the Yanks in the regular season, allowing no runs in 16 innings pitched, 21 strikeouts and just one walk.

The Astros finished second in the league in homers (230) and OPS (.752) while the Yankees were fourth with 212 and .744. The Yanks have a slight advantage in on base percentage (.323 to .315) and batting average (.251 to .250). Houston’s pitching staff leads the AL with a 3.57 ERA while the Yankees are eighth at 4.05. Tanaka gave up 25 homers this year to Keuchel’s 17.

Only five players on the current roster were with the team in 2012 when they last made the postseason: Alex Rodriguez, Brett Gardner, CC Sabathia, Ivan Nova and Adam Warren.

 

Tidbits:

The Yankees lost 6 of their last 7 games.

Houston is 33-48 on the road this year.

The Yanks lost 4 out of 7 meetings between the two this season, including dropping 2 of 3 at home. They were outscored 21-4 in those 3 home games.

 

8:00 pm on ESPN.