ALCS: Make or Break for the Yankees and Astros

Pitching is the biggest part of post season success. Bats may come alive and get teams back into games, but ultimately its the pitching duels who determine long term success in the post season. Going into game 6 of the ALCS both the Yankees and Astros have decided to give their pitchers an extra day rather than force pitching on short rest going down the stretch but how will this affect the series going forward.

For the Astros, their ALCS hopes potentially ride on this game. Up in the series 3-2, Houston is in firm control of their future. With the Yankees bats being able to turn around runs in multiples, the Astros would be wise to put out a well rested pitcher who potentially has his best stuff rather than tire out a veteran pitcher who on short rest could be more erratic and uncontrolled out on the mound. Add in the fact that they’d burn one of their ace pitchers should they win this game, it could potentially put them behind in the next series should they advance.

The same could be said for the Yankees as well, however it is a little bit more of a gamble for New York. Relying on bullpen pitching for one game takes guts in the postseason itself. Now they’re rolling out the deeper end of their pitchers to carry them coming back off of a 3-1. For the final two games of the ALCS if their bats aren’t there and pitching struggles, the Yanks will have to pull out all the stops to keep them alive by any means necessary. To gamble in the postseason, Aaron Boone has to have 100% faith in his team that they’ll have their best each game.

With a trip to the World Series on the line, gambling isn’t what you want to see out of your team’s manager but it’s exactly what each team is doing. The Nationals have already advanced and are awaiting the winner with plenty of rest. If these moves pay off, hopefully it puts either the Astros or Yankees in a better position for their future matchup.