The Narrative On The New York Yankees And Houston Astros Remains Until October

In 1986, the Houston Astros and New York Mets were a big deal with the spotlight growing when they met in an epic six-game NLCS to ultimately decide the pennant.

Note the key word being six games.

Because ask anyone associated with those 1986 Mets the perception was beating Mike Scott in a seventh game was unlikely and anyone involved with those 108-win Mets did not want to test fate by having an encounter with Scott determine if their season continued or ended in a major disappointment.

Times change and the Astrodome is long since imploded after the Astros won four of six games there against the Mets. This time, the New York-Houston angle is shifted into the American League in a rivalry that has built up into something bigger than Yankees-Red Sox at times.

It first started in 2015 when Dallas Keuchel helped the Astros blank the Yankees 3-0 in the wild-card game after an aging team surprised on the way to 87 games. After both teams missed the playoffs in 2016, the following season was a seven-game ALCS where the home team won each game.

The Astros won a pair of 2-1 games at home to start that series, the Yankees scored 19 times in their three homes before being outscored 11-1 in the final two games in Houston. Of course, well after the fact it was revealed the Astros were stealing signs.

The Yankees did not get their chance at a rematch until 2019 when they lost in six games. The Yankees won the first game, got walked off by Carlos Correa, lost two ugly games at home, beat Justin Verlander in the fifth game only to lose Game 6 on Jose Altuve’s walk-off two-run homer off Aroldis Chapman.

All of this brings us to this year or more specifically seven games between the teams since June 23. Those games were played in such a tight window because the MLB lockout postponed their originally scheduled three-game series in the first week of the season and when the sides convened in New York last month, it resulted in a four-game sweep featuring a no-hitter and two dramatic Yankee wins.

Those games being canceled led to the Yankees losing a makeup game June 30 and then getting swept in Thursday’s day-night doubleheader, a scenario that set off alarm bells among some segments of the fans posting on social media and calling into sports talk radio.

It seems highly likely these teams will get together for the ALCS though funny things often happen on the way to anticipated matchups, so it’s certainly plausible to think one or both of these teams could get eliminated before the ALCS.

And the Yankees are well aware of the narrative surrounding their performance against Houston. In a magical season where they won 64 of their first 94 games, only two of those wins are in the seven meetings with Houston and those wins are via game-ending hits by Aaron Judge.

“The narrative’s not going to change until you beat them in the playoffs,” Boone said. “We beat them four of six last year…where did that get us? I understand it’s a big story. I understand the season that we’re in. It’s not going to matter (until) October. We think we’re really good. They’re really good…ultimately, we may have to slay the dragon. If it comes down to October (against the Astros), the proof will be in the pudding.”

For the Yankees, their attempts at knocking the door down on the narrative if it comes down to it, will involve their best lineup.

In other words, Giancarlo Stanton will not get a game off like he did in Game 1 and neither will Anthony Rizzo. And it is unlikely you will see things like Joey Gallo starting any of those possible games and Domingo German pitching. And is it certainly possible some names who were not on the Yankees may appear after being acquired by the Aug. 2 trade deadline.

It often gets said Yankee games are 162 one-game seasons and they just showed off seven of those against the Astros. The Yankees cannot do anything about their past results against the Astros, but they can control avoiding a seventh game in Houston over their final 68 games.

The Mets avoided the dreaded seventh game against Mike Scott in 1986 back when homefield advantage in a NLCS alternated. Those days are long gone like the Astros being a NL team and now it is the Yankees turn to figure out an opponent who has held them to a .151 average.

“October’s a different ballgame,” Judge said. “Things are completely different. Teams are different. This is just kind of the practice test. Every team we play it’s a little practice test, see how we stack up. Take your notes, then get ready for the real thing.”