ALCS and NFL Week 6

The 2017 ALCS rematch starts tonight with the Yankees facing off against the Astros for right to make it to the 2019 World Series. These are the two teams most analysts predicted would face each other after Houston won the season series 4-3. However, neither team was at full strength at the time. I will compare both teams position by position, and put the team with the edge in bold.


Infield

Catcher
Gary Sanchez
Robinson Chirinos

First Base
DJ Lemahieu
Yuli Gurriel

Second Base
Gleyber Torres
Jose Altuve
Push

Shortstop
Didi Gregorious
Carlos Correa
Push

Third Base
Gio Urshela
Alex Bregman

These two teams may have the best infields in the majors, with a who's who at each position. I think it's likely whichever team's middle infield performs better will win the series.

Outfield

Right Field
Aaron Judge
Josh Reddick

Center Field
Brett Gardner
George Springer

Left Field
Giancarlo Stanton
Michael Brantley

Designated Hitter
Edwin Encarnacion
Yordan Alvarez

Aaron Judge and George Springer are each squads respective best outfielder. I still believe a more patient Stanton can be a difference maker in this series if he can shake off his playoff jitters. It will be interesting to see where the returning Aaron Hicks fits into Aaron Boone's plans.

Starting Pitchers

Yankees
Masahiro Tanaka
James Paxton
Luis Severino

Houston
Zack Greinke
Justin Verlander
Gerrit Cole
Jose Urquidy

The Yankees best chance to win this series would be to work the count and get the Astros starters out of the game as quickly as possible. Aaron Boone has a slight advantage after sweeping the Twins to set up the rotation as he sees fit, while the Astros were forced to use ace Gerrit Cole in a winner take all Game 5 Thursday.

Relief Pitchers

Yankees
Aroldis Chapman
Zach Britton
Adam Ottavino

Astros
Roberto Osuna
Ryan Pressly
Will Harris

The Yankees put a lot of stock into keeping and improving their bullpen from last season, even with the injury to Dellin Betances. If the Bombers can keep games close after 6 they have huge edge in the pen. Boone got creative in the ALDS throwing Ottavino for only one batter twice, and will have to find the edge here also.

Prediction

The homer in me is predicting Yankees in six. I believe they beat Greinke and Urquidy as well as stealing one from Verlander. Worst case for the Yankees is letting Houston get to Game Seven where they can throw the possible Cy Young winner in Gerrit Cole. This should be like a heavyweight boxing title match with the two best teams in the majors slugging it out until only one is left standing.

Week 6 Picks

Another .500 week last week brings my season total to 11-10.

Panthers -2.5 v Buccaneers -  Gotta bet the the 9:30 AM football game, breaking out the kegs and eggs. I'll be all for a London game every week. Last time these two teams played Cam Newton was the worst player on the field. Kyle Allen has shown that he is a very serviceable backup and I expect Christian McCaffery to find more success this week than he did in the first time these two teams met.

Jaguars -1.5 v Saints - Minshew Magic faces off against Big Dong Teddy Bridgewater. The Saints are a different team out of the dome and Kamara is questionable after not practicing this week. I believe the Sacksonville D makes enough stops to win the game. 

Texans +4 @ Chiefs - Dashaun Watson broke out against the Falcons last week, while Patrick Mahomes was dinged up by an ankle injury in the Sunday night loss to Indy. It's possible Tyreek Hill returns Sunday, but I don't trust the Chiefs defense to make enough stops to cover the four.

Eagles +140 @ Vikings - Both teams beat up against bad New York football teams last week. The Eagles are rounding back into Super Bowl contender form, while I still don't trust the Vikings after picking on the Giants defense.

Jets +7 v Cowboys - "Sam isn't a magic wand" "I want to make sure I'm not going to die" "If his spleen bursts, we have a problem" Welcome to 2019 Jets football. Maybe I'm smoking something, but after seeing the Cowboys let Aaron Jones run all over them, I believe Bell will have his breakout game with an actual NFL quarterback back behind center. Jets may not win, Sam may die, but Gang Green will cover.

Titans +115 @ Broncos - The Titans seem to play great one week and terrible the next. I'm following that pattern and see them beating a bad Broncos team on the road.

Packers -4 v Lions - I told you to ride Green Bay last week, and a consecutive pick from the Chippa is their reward. Aaron Rdogers in primetime in Lambeau won't lose twice this season. Lions have improved but the Packers are still the better team, period.