Astros Probable Pitchers

Verlander looked more like himself in his last ALCS start, allowing just two runs on an Aaron Judge homer in 6 2/3 innings as the Astros won, 3-2. In three playoff starts against the Yankees as an Astro, Verlander has a 1.19 ERA and 28 strikeouts.

Paxton exited after just 2 1/3 innings in Game 2 in Houston, even though he allowed only one run on four hits. Neither Paxton nor manager Aaron Boone believed the lefty was giving his pitches away. It was simply time to get the starter out of the game. Paxton went 7-3 with a 3.35 ERA in 15 home games this season.

Instead of using Game 3 starter Luis Severino on short rest, manager Aaron Boone said the Yankees will use Green as the opener in Game 6. Severino is expected to be saved for a potential Game 7 on Sunday. Green has worked 5 2/3 innings this postseason and allowed two runs on four hits.

Manager AJ Hinch said that Game 6 of the ALCS will be a bullpen game, instead of using co-ace Gerrit Cole on short rest. Cole would start a possible Game 7 on Sunday night. Peacock pitched in Game 5, hurling one inning and striking out one in relief of Justin Verlander.

The Nationals ace is coming off a seven-inning, one-hit, 11-strikeout gem against the Cardinals in Game 2 of the NLCS, when he took a no-hitter into the seventh. Scherzer has allowed only one run in 15 innings since the start of the NLDS.

Cole has been near-unhittable this postseason, with a 0.40 ERA and 32 strikeouts in his three starts. His 358 strikeouts entering the World Series are the most by anyone in a single year since Randy Johnson in 2001 (419).

Strasburg has a 1.64 ERA this postseason, with 33 strikeouts to only one walk. His 1.10 career playoff ERA is third-lowest all-time among pitchers with at least five postseason starts, behind only Sandy Koufax (0.95) and Christy Mathewson (1.06).

Verlander has had a more up-and-down postseason than you might expect, with a pair of strong outings but also a pair of losses, and a 3.70 ERA. In his first Fall Classic with Houston, he turned in a pair of quality starts against the Dodgers.

Greinke hasn't been at his sharpest this postseason, but his last two starts were solid (3.48 ERA in 10 1/3 innings). He'll get to bat in the NL park in Game 3 -- and Greinke led all pitchers with three home runs and eight extra-base hits this year.

Sánchez will be making his second career World Series start in Game 3 against the Astros. The right-hander allowed two runs over seven innings in Game 3 of the 2012 World Series as a member of the Tigers, pitching against the Giants. Sánchez has a 0.71 ERA over 12 2/3 innings in two starts this postseason.