New York Yankees vs. Houston Astros: 5 Players To Watch For Opening Day
The New York Yankees will get their 2016 started with AL Wild Card rematch against the Houston Astros. Check out our slideshow of five players to watch for.
The New York Yankees will kick off the 2016 season at Yankee Stadium this afternoon. They will be hosting the Houston Astros in a re-match of the 2015 American League Wild Card game, which the Astros won 3-0 to advance in the playoffs.
The Yankees will be looking for some revenge and retribution from that night, as the pitching matchup will be the same; 2015 Cy Young and Gold Glove winner Dallas Keuchel for the Astros against Masahiro Tanaka for the Yankees. It is a matchup of aces that will give the fans a chance to see a real pitcher’s duel.
The Yankees and Astros are both expected to compete for playoff spots in the American League once again, as ZIPS projects the Yankees to finish 82-80 with a 34.3 percent chance of making the postseason and 3.4 percent chance to win the World Series. The Astros are projected at 86-76 with a 58.7 percent chance of making the postseason and 6.4 percent chance at a World Series title.
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Both teams will be looking to get the season off on a high night this afternoon at Yankee Stadium, and will look to do so on the back on some new faces, as both teams added some firepower in the offseason. The Astros added to their bullpen, acquiring Ken Giles from the Philadelphia Phillies, while the Yankees found a second baseman in Starlin Castro, utility outfielder Aaron Hicks and flamethrower Aroldis Chapman.
We will see Castro in the starting lineup, and Joe Girardi has hinted that Hicks will start against the left-handed Keuchel. But, we will not see Chapman until May as he serves a suspension, and Giles will only take the mound if the Astros are winning the game.
Are any of those players worth watching during the game? Check out our slideshow for the five players to keep an eye on Opening Day as the Yankees and Astros get things started on their three-game series at 1:00 PM ET.
Next: Yankees Starting Pitcher