A-Rod, Keuchel debate who's underdog in wild-card clash

On the eve of the American League wild-card game in the Bronx, New York Yankees slugger Alex Rodriguez is pegging the visitors as favorites.

"We're underdogs coming into this game," Rodriguez told reporters Monday.

New York backed into home-field advantage over the Houston Astros, dropping six of their final seven games, and now have to face AL Cy Young candidate Dallas Keuchel in the single-elimination contest.

Coming off a 92-loss campaign in 2014, the Astros were one of the majors' biggest surprises this year, leaving the 27-year-old Keuchel to disagree with the notion that his team is the favorite against one of baseball's most storied franchises.

"I don't believe so. We're at their home place," Keuchel said. "I feel like I'm the underdog every time I go to the mound."

The Yankees finished with the game's second-highest scoring offense, behind the Toronto Blue Jays, and Keuchel said he is more than aware of the type of numbers the Bronx Bombers are capable of.

"I really feel like they're one of the best 1-through-9 lineups in the game," Keuchel said. "Can't really pitch around one guy to get to the next guy. And I'm very careful and very wary of what they can do here, especially in the Bronx, Yankee Stadium, they know how to hit here."

Keuchel dominated the Yankees in a pair of starts during the regular season, tossing 16 scoreless innings while striking out 21. He'll be pitching on three days rest on Tuesday, however, something Yankees manager Joe Girardi hopes work in his team's favor.

"He's really good at what he does. You can't chase on him. You have got to try to get his pitch count up. In a sense, maybe put some long at-bats on him," Girardi said.

"He's one day short on rest and hopefully it will work."