And in Game 1 of this series, the pattern held. Astros ace Justin Verlander got better as he went, and Houston finally managed to beat the Yankees. The Yankees’ task won’t get any easier in Game 2 on Thursday night as Astros lefty Framber Valdez takes the mound. He is a quality starting machine and one of the toughest pitchers to face. While the Yankees technically boasted a better overall offense in 2022, it came with serious peaks and valleys. Aaron Judge was the stalwart in his historic 62-homer season. The rest of the lineup is in flux, and manager Aaron Boone is making changes for Game 2. Harrison Bader — the center fielder acquired for his defensive chops — has been the Yankees’ best player so far in October and will move into first just ahead of Judge. Rookie shortstop Oswald Peraza will start at shortstop and relegate Isiah Kiner-Falefa to the bench. A top prospect, Peraza got his first taste of the big leagues in September, hitting .306 with one homer in 18 games. The Astros are getting a serious postseason jolt from their own rookie, Jeremy Peña, who returned to seal Game 1. Game 2 starts at 7:37 p.m. ET on TBS. Follow all the action right here on Yahoo Sports. Want to catch up on October’s top stories? We got you covered.
