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ALCS Game Four: New York Yankees vs. Houston Astros: Masahiro Tanaka vs. Zack Greinke

The Yankees turn the clocks to Tanaka Time needing a win to even up the ALCS at two apiece

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MLB: ALCS-Houston Astros at New York Yankees Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

The Yankees took, and then promptly lost, home-field advantage, meaning they have some work to do to get back in this series. First and foremost comes with evening the score tonight, with their best pitcher in the postseason going.

Masahiro Tanaka has been brilliant for the Yankees in October, and that has remained true as ever this season. Tanaka has allowed just one run in 11 innings worked so far, shutting out Houston in his Game One start back on Saturday. He’ll need to be sharp again to give the Yankees’ offense a chance to work through their recent struggles, and if he’s going as efficient as he was in his last start Aaron Boone will have to think about letting him go deep into this game.

Zack Greinke was good but not great against the Bombers, a summation that could describe his postseason career as well. Greinke gave the Astros six innings and struck out six, but allowed seven hits and three runs to score. Greinke didn’t crack until his final inning of work, but he allowed a lot of contact and in particular lots of fly balls, which could work out worse for him this time around in Yankee Stadium.

The Yankees moved around their lineup hoping to ignite some sparks in slumping bats, pushing Aaron Hicks up to third from the nine-hole and giving Gleyber Torres cleanup duty. Edwin Encarnacion slides down a slot to fifth, and Brett Gardner falls down to sixth. Didi Gregorius now resets the lineup batting ninth.

First pitch is scheduled for 8:08 p.m. EST. You can catch the action live on FS1, or stream the game on fubo.tv or MLB.tv. You can also listen to the broadcast on ESPN radio, WFAN 600/101.9 FM or WADO 1280.