The Astros have a 2-0 lead in the ALCS and have won seven straight games, so of course I’m betting the Yankees to win. Gerrit Cole has been great in the playoffs, and I put my money on him after two dominant wins against Cleveland in the ALDS, where he allowed three runs over 13.3 innings (16 Ks). I don’t care about what Cristian Javier did in June at Yankee Stadium (no hits in seven innings). It’s about now. It’s about getting back into the series. It’s about adding some positive playoff moments to Cole’s legacy. It's about the Yankees' home crowd energy. It's now or never for New York. Yankees to win.

Christian Javier pitched extremely well in his two starts against the Yankees this season allowing just 1 run in 12 innings pitched. Gerrit Cole allowed just 1 run in 7 innings when he faced the Astros this season. However, Javier has pitched just 1.1 innings since October 1st so who knows how sharp he will be. Cole pitched really well in both his postseason starts, but the Astros lineup is much tougher than the Guardians. However, this is a must win game for the Yankees with Lance McCullers Jr. going Sunday for the Astros now. They can’t go down 3-0 in this series with their ace on the mound so I think if the Yankees are going to win a game this series, it has to be this one.

If the Yankees can't get this one Saturday with former Astro Gerrit Cole opposed by Cristian Javier -- don't get me wrong, Javier is good and dominated NYY in two regular-season starts but has pitched just 1.1 innings since Oct. 1 -- then New York deserves to be swept. Lance McCullers likely would have pitched in Game 3, but he was hit in the elbow bone by a champagne bottle during Astros' celebration in defeating the Mariners in the ALDS so will pitch Game 4. Seriously, how do MLB players get injured in such Dennis the Menace ways?