With the Yankees and Astros set to play another three games against each other at Yankee Stadium, it's hard not to look at comparisons between this series and the one that occurred two years ago.

In the 2017 ALCS, the home team won every game that was played, and unfortunately for the Yankees, the Astros had home field advantage for that series--just like they do again for this one.

But this time around, the Yankees return home from a two-game stint in Houston with a win already under their belt, and nearly came home with two before a-walkoff home run by Carlos Correra ended that dream. And yet, one game may be all the Yankees need now that they're back in New York.

The Yankees pulled off a bit of a Game 1 shocker against the Astros in opening game of the ALCS, topping the series favorites 7-0 on the road. The bats came to play, but RHP Masahiro Tanaka did, too. 

Tanaka continued his postseason dominance. His ERA in seven career playoff starts is now 1.32. 

Over six shutout innings, Tanaka allowed only two runners and one hit. But after just 68 pitches, the Yankees opted for the bullpen. 

The Yankees and Astros will continue the ALCS in New York this week, but the overlying headline could be something neither team can control: Mother Nature. 

It's expected that Game 3 will happen as scheduled on Tuesday. But Game 4 has folks in the league office worried as Wednesday has a forecast that's wet. There's already predicted 100 percent chance of showers, at times, for the Bronx that day via the National Weather Service. 

According to ESPN, Major League Baseball is already planning ahead because of the forecasted showers, which could cause big changes to the pitching rotations of both the Yankees and Astros in the ALCS.

The Yankees already have a tentative pitching plan in place for Game 4 of the ALCS on Wednesday, a day before Tuesday's Game 3. 

Yankees manager Aaron Boone said on Monday that Wednesday is going to be a "bullpen day," adding that LHP J.A. Happ could play a role in the festivities as well, following his Game 2 mishap. 

"Obviously kind of depends a lot on what happens tomorrow. J-Happ could very much be in the mix," Boone said. "As well as... I picture our bullpen being unleashed on that day."

After Giancarlo Stanton missed Game 2 of the ALCS in Houston due to a quad injury, the Yankees are still in wait-and-see mode on him, manager Aaron Boone said on Monday.

Boone noted that there probably won't be a decision on Stanton's availability for Game 3 until Tuesday.

Stanton hit in the batting cage before Game 2 and that "went pretty well," Boone said, adding that he wasn't sure what kind of activities Stanton would participate in on Monday.

Here are the key 2019 MLB offseason dates, and how they impact the Yankees...

Day after World Series ends: Free agency begins

Before factoring in raises for arbitration, the Yankees already have a shade over $164 million committed to their payroll for 2020. But there is still room to spend, and there will be plenty of big names out there. 

Among the biggest names expected to hit the free agent market: Gerrit Cole, Anthony Rendon, Marcell Ozuna, and Will Smith. 

The Yankees' notable free agents include Didi Gregorius, Dellin Betances, and Brett Gardner.

Scott Thompson, SNY.tv | Twitter |

The Yankees couldn't come away with another road victory against the Astros on Sunday night, falling 3-2 in extras to tie the series up. Unlike their seven-run splurge in Game 1, Justin Verlander calmed the Yanks' bats down a bit with his stellar arsenal on the mound, allowing only the two-run homer to Aaron Judge that accounted for the team's only runs in the contest. 

Now the ALCS heads to the Bronx for the first time, which should work in the Yankees' favor right? Not necessarily with Gerrit Cole on the mound. 

The Yankees have up to 12 arbitration-eligible players this offseason, with James Paxton, Aaron Judge, and Gary Sanchez the biggest names in that group. 

Once a player is offered arbitration, the team and that player's agent have until a set date -- usually at some point in February -- to come to terms on a new contract. If that doesn't happen, both sides submit salary proposals and the player's salary is determined at a hearing by independent arbitrators. 

According to MLB Trade Rumors, here's what the Yankees' arbitration-eligible players are projected to make in 2020...

Andy Martino, SNY.tv | Twitter |

HOUSTON -- Dellin Betances tore his Achilles in September. Domingo German is on the restricted list because of a domestic violence allegation. On this night, the Yankees missed both of those pitchers (and, of course, the baseball impact of German's situation is insignificant compared to what his alleged victim experienced).

Jonathan Loaisiaga appeared overwhelmed and unable to find the strike zone. Betances would have inspired much more confidence in that spot, or at least lengthened the bullpen by having another high-leverage guy and not ever needing Loaisiga. The left-handed and homer-prone J.A. Happ in the game as the bulk guy in extra innings, was a far less favorable matchup against the Astros' righty-heavy lineup than the righty German would have been.

Game 2 of the ALCS made every pitch matter Sunday at Minute Maid Park in Houston, but perhaps no play swung the momentum more than what happened midway through the sixth inning.

With two on and two out as DJ LeMahieu led off second and Gleyber Torres from fits, Brett Gardner's sharp ground ball up the middle initially short hopped off Jose Altuve at second base and into the hole, but Carlos Correa came over from shortstop in time.

While Torres stayed put on second, LeMahieu wheeled around after getting waved by third-base coach Phil Nevin and booked for home plate.

Disappointment filled the locker room as the Yankees summed up Sunday's 3-2 loss to the Astros in Game 2 of the ALCS, but the main objective at Minute Maid Park in Houston ultimately got accomplished.

While the Yankees had the Astros on the ropes and let the chance to go up 2-0 slip away, the two-game trip ended with the next three matchups back before the Yankee Stadium crowd in New York, starting Tuesday at 4:08 p.m. ET.

Despite the poor performance at the plate for the Yankees, whose only runs came on Aaron Judge's two-run homer in the top of the fourth inning, they brush off their six-hit evening with an opportunity to get Game 3 -- and possibly the series -- done in the Bronx.

With one out in the bottom of the third inning, Aaron Boone pulled the plug on James Paxton.

The southpaw's start ended early Sunday after allowing one run -- Carlos Correa's one-out double to left field, scoring Alex Bregman from second base in the bottom of the second inning -- on four hits and three strikeouts to two walks in 2.1 frames, making Boone call on eight different arms out of the bullpen.

Game 2 of the ALCS ultimately ended in the bottom of the 11th inning on Correa's leadoff solo shot off J.A. Happ, who entered midway through the previous frame, but Boone backed the decision to pull Paxton early and pointed to the bullpen's overall production despite the Yankees' 3-2 loss to the Astros at Minute Maid Park in Houston.

John Harper, SNY.tv | Twitter |

The Yankees fell 3-2 to the Astros on Saturday in Game 2 of the ALCS, evening the series at 1-1.

Five things to know from Sunday's game

1.) For all the talk about the bullpen edge the Yankees have in this series, Game 2 proved that too much of a good thing can have its consequences.

As the Mets' search for their new manager continues, one former New York star publicly expressed his desire to lead an MLB team for 2020 and beyond, but will the opportunity come in orange and blue?

Before the Yankees played Game 2 of the ALCS against the Astros at Minute Maid Park in Houston, former 20-year veteran outfielder Carlos Beltran expressed his desire to become a manager when he caught up with SNY's Andy Martino on the field.

Beltran, who spent 2005-10 as a Met and slashed .279/.366/.499 with 134 home runs and 493 RBI in 741 games over six seasons, interviewed Thursday for the New York job and turned down chances to do the same with the Chicago Cubs and San Diego Padres.

With the Yankees down one run in the top of the fourth inning, Aaron Judge made Astros starter Justin Verlander pay.

After a leadoff walk from Verlander against DJ LeMahieu to start the frame, the righty made a mistake with Judge on an 0-1 count.

Verlander hung a slider above the belt over the plate and Judge sent the pitch into orbit, crushing a two-run home run to right-center field and putting the Yankees ahead of the Astros for a 2-1 lead.

The Yankees look to extend their series lead in Game 2 of the ALCS against the Astros on Sunday at 8:08 p.m. at Minute Maid Park.

Yankees notes

The Yankees took a 1-0 lead in the series after beating the Astros 7-0 in Game 1 of the ALCS. Gleyber Torres was the star of the night, going 3-for-5 with 5 RBI thanks to a double and home run. Giancarlo Stanton went 2-for-4 with a solo home run, but injured his quad and will not start Game 2. Starter Masahiro Tanaka allowed just one hit over six innings, striking out four batters and walking just one in the win. Gio Urshela put the nail in the coffin with his solo home run in the ninth inning, he finished the game 2-for-4 from the plate.

Yankees slugger Giancarlo Stanton will not start in Sunday night's Game 2 of the ALCS against the Houston Astros after injuring his quad in Saturday's Game 1.

Manager Aaron Boone spoke before Game 2, and said Stanton could pinch hit or play the field in an emergency.

"Yeah, kinda injured his quad last night," Boone said. "Hoping that it's something that with today and the off day he'll be back and play for Game 3. We'll see how these next 48 hours unfold. He would be available tonight to hit or go in an emergency situation... Didn't feel like he was good to start."

The Yankees got the job done in Game 1, shutting out the Astros on their home field to take the first game of the ALCS, 7-0. And they could truly carry all the momentum to the Bronx if they can collect another road victory on Sunday night. 

However, they'll have to go through the Astros' ace in Justin Verlander to do so. 

Two years ago, Verlander dominated the Yankees at Minute Maid Park in his two ALCS starts. His first was in Game 2, pitching a complete game where he allowed just one run while striking out 13. Then seven scoreless innings game in Game 6 to help force a divisive Game 7 that the Yankees would ultimately lose. 

Andy Martino, SNY.tv | Twitter |

The right call to remove Tanaka

HOUSTON -- Masahiro Tanaka threw 68 pitches through six innings, allowing just one hit and dominating the Houston offense. Because of that, the knee-jerk response when Adam Ottavino trotted out of the bullpen to begin the seventh might have been outrage.

But one simple fact made it the right call: Opponents have a .387 wOBA (weighted on-base average) against Tanaka the third time through the lineup this year, which was where the Astros found themselves after six.

When Aaron Boone's Yankees lineup for Game 1 of the ALCS was announced earlier on Saturday, it was nearly identical to what the team rolled out in the ALDS against the Twins, with one notable exception.

Boone moved Gleyber Torres up to the third spot in the order, hitting between Aaron Judge and Edwin Encarnacion. 

The impact of that move was felt immediately against the Astros, as Torres went 3-for-5 at the plate, driving in five runs in the Yankees' dominant 7-0 Game 1 win.

Masahiro Tanaka was brilliant for the Yankees in Game 1 of the ALCS against the Houston Astros, putting his team in position to take a 1-0 lead in the series with a win on the road.

The right-hander threw six near perfect innings for New York, allowing just one hit and one walk with four strikeout on 68 pitches.

"Going into the game with a plan," Tanaka said through a translator, on why he was so effective Saturday night. "...really focusing on each pitch, executing your pitches, that's kind of what it all comes down to."

John Harper, SNY.tv | Twitter |

The Yankees defeated the Astos 7-0 on Saturday in Game 1 of the ALCS, taking a 1-0 series lead. >> Box Score

Five things to know from Saturday's game

1) So who said the Astros have the advantage in the starting pitching in this ALCS, anyway?

Gleyber Torres put the Yankees on the board first in Game 1 of the ALCS against the Houston Astros. 

In a tight-knit game that has both Masahiro Tanaka and Zack Greinke dealing early, Torres hit an RBI double with one out in the top of the fourth inning to bring DJ LeMahieu in for the first run of the game.

Gleyber Torres is 22 years old.



(via @Yankees) pic.twitter.com/DTDTYJyWGU

Tags: DJ LeMahieu, Giancarlo Stanton, Gio Urshela, Gleyber Torres, Masahiro Tanaka

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Aaron Judge is typically known more for his bat, but he made a great play in the field to help preserve the Yankees' ALCS Game 1 lead.

Aaron Judge shouldn't be able to hit balls as far as he does AND throw like this. It's just not fair.



(via @MLB) pic.twitter.com/37cehU1Dty

- Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) October 13, 2019

Both the Yankees and Astros finalized their ALCS rosters on Saturday, and both CC Sabathia and Aaron Hicks will be available for the Bombers as they battle Houston for a World Series berth.

The Yankees, who went with a 12-man pitching staff in the ALDS, have opted for 13 pitchers against the Astros. Rather than have Sabathia replace a different pitcher on the staff, the team left both Tyler Wade and Luke Voit off the ALCS roster. Additionally, David Hale was designated for assignment to make room on the team's 40-man roster for Hicks, who had previously been on the 60-day injured list.

New York Yankees Announce 2019 ALCS Roster. Additionally, the Yankees have reinstated OF Aaron Hicks from the 60-day injured list and designated RHP David Hale for assignment. pic.twitter.com/mjXDdbFW1h

Tags: Aaron Hicks, CC Sabathia, Giancarlo Stanton

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The Yankees look to get things started on the right foot in Game 1 of the ALCS against the Astros on Saturday at 8:08 p.m. at Minute Maid Park.

Yankees notes

Aaron Hicks and CC Sabathia are back on the ALCS roster for the Yankees, while Luke Voit and Tyler Wade were left off. ... Hicks is not in the starting lineup, while Sabathia will pitch out of the bullpen during the series. ... The Astros took four of seven games from the Yankees in the 2019 regular season, including a three-game sweep in Houston. ... The Yankees have moved Gleyber Torres up to the third spot in the lineup after having Brett Gardner in that spot for all three games of the ALDS. 

With the stage set for a rematch of the 2017 ALCS, the Yankees took the field at Minute Maid Park on Friday for their team workout ahead of this year's Championship Series.

And while there were no fans in the seats on Friday, the Yankees know that the Astros home-field advantage has been very real over the past few seasons, but it's nothing the team doesn't think they can' handle.

"I think our guys relish in this," said Aaron Boone. "Clearly the Astros have shown that they have a really good home-field advantage here, not only this year but even going back a few years and a lot of us are aware of how loud this place can be, but a lot of our guys will relish in that, embrace that, and hopefully find a way to have success through it all. But I don't worry about that affecting our guys and our performance."

Aaron Boone said on Friday afternoon that the team had yet to finalize their ALCS roster, but there have been a couple of hints that suggest outfielder Aaron Hicks will indeed be included on the roster.

As the Yankees took the field at Minute Made Park for Friday's workout, MLB.com's Bryan Hoch noted that the group breakdown of the team's batting practice did not include Tyler Wade's name, though it did include both Hicks and Luke Voit.

George King of the New York Post also noted that Wade does not have a locker in the Yankees clubhouse in Houston.

When Yankees manager Aaron Boone met with the media in Houston on Friday on the eve of the ALCS, the first order of business was announcing the the Yankees' pitching rotation.

According to Boone, the Yankees will go with Masahiro Tanaka in Game 1, James Paxton in Game 2, and Luis Severino in Game 3, and then go from there. 

"Again, I felt like it was a good decision, a tough one to be made, similar to the Division Series where I was going back and forth a lot," said Boone. "Just felt like Masa here in Game 1, that's the way I wanted to go in the end."

Game 1 of the ALCS is set to begin Saturday at Yankee Stadium, and Astros outfielder George Springer knows it will be a hostile environment.

"They expect their team to win," Springer said of Yankee fans on Friday. "It's a very, very hard place to play at any time of year, let alone October. It's a crazy atmosphere."

Anthony McCarron, SNY.tv | Twitter |

For months, it seemed destined to be this way, Astros versus Yankees, a trip to the World Series the prize. There were some tense moments for Houston - well, at least until the first inning of that deciding game against the Rays - but here we are:  

Astro-geddon. Cole-pocalypse. A series of Judge-ian proportions. A Bunch of "Savages" versus Baseball's Best Team.

The Yankees had to wait three days, but now their ALCS matchup is set.

The Astros defeated the Rays 6-1 in a winner-take-all Game 5 in Houston, securing their trip to the ALCS. Gerrit Cole was once again phenomenal on the mound, tossing eight innings while allowing just one run on two hits. The game was Cole's 11th straight outing with at least 10 strikeouts. 

The Astros jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead in the first inning off of Rays starter Tyler Glasnow, and they never looked back.

The Yankees are all set to go in the ALCS. They just need an opponent. 

The Rays pulled out an upset of Justin Verlander in Game 4 in their home Tropicana Field on Tuesday night, forcing a divisive Game 5 on Thursday night at 7:07 p.m. This one, though, will be in Houston with Gerrit Cole facing off against Tyler Glasnow -- a much tougher challenge for the Rays to pull off the ultimate upset. 

Either way, who would the Yankees want to face in the Championship Series? 

Manager Aaron Boone and the Yankees are working through all the options they can have for their 25-man roster leading up to the ALCS. They don't yet know their opponent with the Astros and Rays playing Game 5 of their ALDS on Thursday night, but the preparation begun ever since New York clinched the series sweep against the Twins on Monday night. 

But when exactly do they need to decide who will be on their roster? 

The official deadline for the Yankees to get their 25-man roster in is actual the day of the game. Boone needs to have his roster in by 10 a.m., EST on Saturday. 

Anthony McCarron, SNY.tv | Twitter |

The Yankees are probably healthier than they've been all season and they're coming off a sweep of the Twins in the AL Division Series. But Aaron Boone and the rest of the Yankee brass still face questions heading into the next round.

The big one, of course, is Astros or Rays? We'll find out Thursday night when Tampa Bay and Houston meet in a deciding Game 5.

Once that's decided, they can work in more detail on the others. Here are three roster questions facing the Yankees as they prep for the best-of-seven AL Championship Series, which begins Saturday night in either Houston or the Bronx, depending on who wins in Houston Thursday:

The Yankees hit the field at Yankee Stadium on Thursday to get a workout in before heading into the ALCS. But they don't know exactly who they're going to be facing in that series just yet. 

The Astros and Rays will play their ALDS Game 5 tonight in Houston to determine who moves on and who goes home. And based off who does come away with the victory in that game could go into how manager Aaron Boone and the Yankees create their new 25-man roster for the ALCS. 

"It could factor in a little bit, definitely," Boone told the media on Thursday. "There could be a decision based on the opponent for a spot or two."

Manager Aaron Boone and the Yankees are working through all the options they can have for their 25-man roster leading up to the ALCS.

Meanwhile, the same can be said for Mike Shildt's Cardinals and Davey Martinez's Washington Nationals.

But when exactly do they need to decide who will be on their roster? 

Brian McCann has decided to call it a career.

Following the Braves' NLDS Game 5 13-1 blowout loss to the Cardinals, the veteran of 15 major league seasons announced his retirement from baseball.

"It's just time to go. 15 years of catching, it's sad but it's time. I knew about a month and a half ago," McCann told reporters.

"You know when you know, and it's time."

Yankees manager Aaron Boone has to think about his 25-man roster yet again heading into the ALCS. The one he and his staff put together for the ALDS against the Twins worked as planned, sweeping Minnesota to get an early break before their next postseason challenge. 

The Yankees don't know their opponent just yet, with the Astros and Rays to play Game 5 on Thursday night. But one of the big decisions for Boone will be whether or not he goes with the same rotation configuration as he did in the last series. 

After long thought, it was James Paxton, Masahiro Tanaka and Luis Severino in that order. During a conference call with the media on Wednesday, Boone was asked if he's sticking with that rotation, and he revealed he will be looking at all options yet again. 

John Harper, SNY.tv | Twitter |

Brian Cashman may have fired Joe Girardi two years ago, but he still speaks glowingly of the job the former manager did with the Yankees, and doesn't hesitate to recommend that the Mets hire him.

"When you're talking about somebody like Joe, he'd give you instant credibility," Cashman told SNY on Wednesday. "He's buttoned-up, ready to go, and proven successful in the largest market you can find. And he came out on top.

"He was here for 10 years, and some things have an expiration date, but that doesn't diminish the abilities the person possesses or the quality of work he provides. I highly recommend Joe to anybody, even our rivals, unfortunately."

The Astros and Rays are still focused on their ALDS series that has now gone to a decisive Game 5 to see who moves on to the Championship Series. 

The Yankees, though, are patiently waiting in the Bronx, prepping for the winner of that Thursday night contest. 

It was a clean sweep of the Twins in their ALDS series, dominating at the plate and on the mound throughout. But even through all the success with the roster manager Aaron Boone put together, he and his coaches are still going back to the drawing board entering their next seven-game series. 

The Yankees have been decimated by injuries this year, with more than a dozen key players going down. Check back here for the latest updates on the walking wounded.  

October 9, 1:00 PM:

Zack Britton jammed his right ankle on first base during Game 3 against the Twins while making a bang-bang play to record an out. And though he was limping off the mound and into the dugout, it doesn't look like he'll be missing any postseason time. 

According to MLB Network's Jon Morosi, Britton will be on the Yankees' ALCS roster when Aaron Boone puts it together before Saturday's start to the new series. That's great news to hear considering Britton is the Yanks' best lefty reliever, minus closer Aroldis Chapman, out in the pen. 

When the Yankees announced their roster to start the MLB playoffs, they left several notable contributors from the regular season off the list.

Among the Yankees to miss the past week's three-game sweep of the Minnesota Twins in the ALDS, OF Clint Frazier and 1B/DH Mike Ford headlined the omissions, but neither of them have let that alter their approach.

As the Yankees await their opponent for the ALCS with Game 5 between the Astros and Tampa Bay Rays, to be determined Thursday at 7:07 p.m. ET from Minute Maid Park in Houston, Frazier and Ford highlight the ready reserves.

Fresh off a three-game sweep of the Twins in the ALDS, the Yankees could be getting even more help for the ALCS.

Center fielder Aaron Hicks told the Associated Press on Tuesday that he is "definitely ready to go out there and play."

Hicks hasn't suited up for the Yankees since Aug. 3 due to a right elbow flexor strain. He also suffered a setback during his recovery, making it unclear if he would play again in 2019.

Before the Yankees entered the postseason, SS Didi Gregorius was mired in a slump. His September numbers were .190/.247/.380 with three homers and 16 RBI over 20 games. 

That's not what you want to see heading into October, but when asked about Gregorius before the series against the Twins began, manager Aaron Boone wasn't sweating his shortstop's performance at all. 

In fact, he expected Gregorius to step up and be a crucial factor for his club. 

Anthony McCarron, SNY.tv | Twitter |

After Gleyber Torres' remarkable sophomore season and the performance he put on Monday night, it's tempting to brand the 2016 trade that brought him to the Yankees as the club's best deadline deal of all time. 

Yes, we're still ga-ga over the power display, the sweet glove, and the postgame charm after the Yanks buried the Twins in Game 3 of the AL Division Series.  So are his teammates -- while spritzing celebratory bubbly and beer around the clubhouse, Aaron Judge anointed Torres as the "next Yankee great" and it's hard to argue. 

Torres is the youngest Yankee to whack three extra-base hits in a postseason game -- take that, DiMaggio -- and never seems overwhelmed.

The Yankees completed their sweep of the Twins on Monday night, and in turn, the celebration for reaching the ALCS ensued. But in the joy of moving on to the next round, a certain Yankee took an errant bottle to the hand. 

Aroldis Chapman, who collected the final five outs to seal the 5-1 win, was seen with his left hand wrapped in the clubhouse. However, he didn't seemed fazed by it when asked. 

"I was just celebrating and everyone was jumping around," Chapman told The Post's Dan Martin via a translator. "I got hit with a bottle, but it's fine."

The Yankees beat the Twins on Monday night in Minnesota to secure a three-game ALDS sweep and punch their ticket to the ALCS, where they await the winner of the Astros vs. Rays.

Click below to see how the back pages in NYC reacted...

The Yankees celebrated accordingly from their locker room at Target Field in Minnesota after they swept the Twins with Monday's 5-1 win, but eight more victories are needed for the ultimate goal.

"I think a lot of guys, the older guys, are at a stage in their career where we want to win a ring," said Zack Britton. "(Adam) Ottavino, myself -- a lot of the younger players, too."

Hungry for more, the Yankees enjoyed the 16th straight playoff victory against the Twins, but they already await the winnner of the other ALDS series between the Houston Astros and Tampa Bay, who still have to face off Tuesday in Game 4 at 7:07 p.m. from Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida, after Monday's 10-3 Rays rout.