Skip to content

3 reasons why the Yankees can come back from 2-0 ALCS deficit

Ken Blaze / USA TODAY Sports

The New York Yankees are returning home with their tails tucked between their legs after a pair of defeats to the Houston Astros in the ALCS. Sound familiar?

The Yankees found themselves on the brink after dropping the opening two games of the ALDS against the Cleveland Indians before righting the ship and storming to a series win in Game 5. The Astros are a different beast featuring baseball's best offense, but the Yankees may not be as dead in the water as they appear. Here's why:

Keeping the arms race close

The Astros' big guns - Dallas Keuchel and Justin Verlander - were responsible for the Yankees' struggles in Houston. In a postseason when strong starting pitching has been left wanting, the co-aces combined for 16 innings in two games, leaving the bullpen fully rested for the trip to the Bronx.

Don't forget the Yankees held the Astros' world-beating offense to only four runs over the two games. While every loss counts for the same amount in hindsight, the Yankees were in both games to the bitter end, losing each by identical 2-1 scores.

Now they turn to CC Sabathia and Sonny Gray for the first two games at home. Neither has been especially dominant, but Sabathia is coming off a solid finale against the Indians.

If the series winds up in the hands of relievers, the odds will tilt as no team had a better bullpen than the Yankees. While the Astros may hold the starting pitcher advantage, if the Yankees can manage to chase someone early, things could swing in their favor. But it all starts with stirring the dormant bats.

A sleeping giant awakens

As dangerous as the Astros' lineup is, the Yankees weren't far off in the regular season. No team blasted more home runs than their 241, and only the Astros scored more runs. The Yankees just haven't clicked at the dish this postseason save for a couple spurts against the Indians.

No one should be feeling the heat more than Gary Sanchez and Aaron Judge. They are a combined 1-for-14 with eight strikeouts through two games. Not exactly a recipe for success.

If the bats can come alive, don't be shocked if it's initiated by the youth brigade. They hit 85 regular-season home runs, and while Sanchez mostly balanced his home-road splits, Judge definitely benefited from the friendly confines of Yankee Stadium. Judge hit .312/.440/.725 with 33 homers in pinstripes, compared to .256/.404/.531 and 19 bombs wearing road grays.

They'll need everyone to chip in, but it starts there.

Yankee Stadium supremacy

Who had the American League's best regular-season home record? You guessed it, the Yankees. They went 51-30 at Yankee Stadium, and kept the momentum in the playoffs by winning both home games against the Indians.

In addition to being a catalyst for Judge's production, it's played a role in the team's overall success. They'll have to act quickly, though, because losing Game 3 would likely be too much for the team to bear.

The Astros remain in the driver's seat and appear poised to punch a ticket to the World Series. The Indians were in a similarly envious position not long ago, and now they're watching from their couches. This Yankees team has shown an unexpected resilience, and it wouldn't be the most shocking thing for them to do it again.

Game 3 is slated for Monday at 8 p.m. ET.

(Photos courtesy: Action Images)

Daily Newsletter

Get the latest trending sports news daily in your inbox