Both these starters really struggled in their first appearance this postseason. Verlander allowed 10 hits and 6 ER in 4 IP to the Mariners while Jameson Taillon allowed 3 hits and 2 ER without recording an out. However, the Yankees had to play last night and travel. They also used all their top relievers to get here. Not to mention, they won a series last night so they were having fun in their clubhouse celebrating which can really only hurt them in terms of being hungover and the plane getting into Houston at a later hour. The Astros have the best bullpen in the league, and they are well rested in Houston. They have the much better lineup as well, the Yankees actually just won that series against the Guardians with the 5th lowest batting average ever to win in a Division Series or later at .182. This team relies on home runs, and I don’t think they will succeed too much against the Astros pitching staff.

Houston won the regular-season series 5-2 and has the better and more rested bullpen. The Astros also have a big edge at starting pitcher in Game 1 with Justin Verlander facing the Yankees' No 4, Jameson Taillon. He was lit up by the Astros in his only start against them this year (6 ER in 5.2 innings), and he's coming off consecutive poor outings in October -- the first against Texas on Oct. 4 and most recently in Game 2 versus the Guardians last Friday. In eight career postseason starts versus New York, Verlander is 4-1 with a 2.75 ERA. Lay the big price.

New York has absolutely everything going against it after having to play Tuesday afternoon, used its top three relievers for a combined four innings, lost Aaron Hicks to injury (can't hit but good defender) and then had fly to Houston to face Justin Verlander and the rested Astros. The Yankees SHOULD NOT win this game in all honesty, especially with shaky Jameson Taillon on the mound. He had an ERA about a run worse away during the season and Houston roughed him up in the one start. But we all know baseball doesn't make sense often, so I pondered the New York runline at -140. Just couldn't do it to save 50 cents.