Astros vs. Yankees live updates: Play by play, latest score

Houston Astros improve to 4-0 in 2022 playoffs | 10 p.m. CT

The Houston Astros took a 1-0 ALCS lead and improved to 4-0 overall this postseason with a 4-2 win over the New York Yankees on Wednesday night at Minute Maid Park. Yuli Gurriel, Chas McCormick and Jeremy Peña each hit solo home runs, while Houston ace Justin Verlander gave up just three hits and one earned run with 11 strikeouts in six innings.

Pressly looks to close it out | Top 9

Houston will look for a four-out save from closer Ryan Pressly as it looks to close Game 1 of the ALCS. Pressly recorded a clutch strikeout of Matt Carpenter to close the top of the 8th, and with a two-run lead, he’ll now look to avoid any traffic on the bases. 

Yankees cut into Astros lead with solo shot | Top 8

After three straight solo shots by Houston put the Astros by three, but the New York Yankees delivered one of their own to cut into the deficit. Anthony Rizzo connected for a 387-foot home run to right in the top of the eighth to make it a 4-2 game.

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Peña crushes Astros' third HR of Game 1 | Bottom 7

Jeremy Peña nearly sent a ball to the train tracks in the bottom of the seventh, crushing a solo shot 386 feet to left to stretch Houston's lead to 4-1. The Astros rookie hit his first career postseason home run a few days earlier, an 18th-inning blast to seal an ALDS sweep of the Seattle Mariners.

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Astros go deep twice in sixth to take lead | Bottom 6

After a quiet start on Wednesday, the Houston Astros bats came alive in the bottom of the sixth. Yuli Gurriel—who hit a home run to help spark a comeback in Game 1 of the ALDS—gave Houston a 2-1 lead with a solo shot into the Crawford Boxes. Chas McCormick followed it up with his first career playoff home run later in the inning to stretch the lead to 3-1.

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Verlander closes outing in style | Bottom 6

Justin Verlander was absolutely brilliant in his final frames against New York on Wednesday. The 39-year-old and likely Cy Young tallied 11 strikeouts across the first six innings, setting the MLB record for most postseason strikeouts in the process. Houston’s offense hasn’t been able to make the most of Verlander’s start thus far, though, entering the bottom of the sixth with just one run. 

Tucker double play ends Astros' opportunity | Top 6

The Houston Astros were in prime position to take their first lead of the ALCS in the top of the sixth, but a clutch defensive play by the Yankees kept the score tied at one. With the bases loaded and only one out in the inning, Kyle Tucker grounded into a double play to end the frame.

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Yankees pull Taillon | Bottom 5 

The New York Yankees were the first team to go to their bullpen on Wednesday night as they pulled starting pitcher Jameson Taillon in the fourth inning following a double from Houston Astros shortstop Jeremy Peña. Taillon allowed just one run on Wednesday night, but the Astros are now in position to take the lead with Yordan Alvarez at the plate. 

Verlander cruises through fifth | Bottom 5

Justin Verlander was shaky out of the gate on Wednesday, but the Houston Astros' ace has found a rhythm in recent frames. Verlander struck out six straight batters from the third inning through the first out in the fifth, and he finished five frames allowing only one run. 

Houston's offense will now look to capitalize on Verlander’s brilliance. The two teams enter the bottom of the 5th knotted in a 1-1 tie. —Michael Shapiro

Verlander fights through trouble again | Bottom 3

It hasn’t been the easiest first three innings for Justin Verlander on Wednesday night. The 39-year-old Houston Astros hurler has allowed three hits on the night, including a home run to center fielder Harrison Bader. But Verlander has kept the damage relatively in check, working his way out of trouble with a pair of strikeouts to close the third inning. 

Verlander needed 65 pitches to get through three frames. Yordan Alvarez will head to the plate for Houston in the bottom of the third. —Michael Shapiro

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Maldonado ties it up in second | Bottom 2

Houston Astros catcher Martín Maldonado isn't known for his offensive prowess, but he came through at the plate early in Game 1. Chas McCormick singled to start a two-out rally in the bottom of the first, and Maldonado drove him in on a double to deep right to tie the score at 1-1 — Josh Criswell

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Bader's blast puts Yankees up early, 1-0 | Top 2

The Yankees landed the first blow of the ALCS, with outfielder Harrison Bader smashing a solo home run off Houston ace Justin Verlander to give New York a 1-0 lead in the top of the second. Verlander was dominant in the regular season, but struggled in his only playoff outing of 2022, giving up six earned runs in four innings. Verlander has given 21 earned runs over his last 31 1/3 innings of playoff baseball following Bader's home run. —Michael Shapiro

Judge robs Astros of runs with diving catch | Top 2

The Houston Astros appeared in position to take an early lead, as Alex Bregman ripped a one-out line drive to the gap in right with runners on first and second. Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge robbed Houston of the scoring opportunity, however, with an athletic diving grab that kept the game tied at 0-0. —Michael Shapiro

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Verlander works out of trouble in the first | Bottom 1

Justin Verlander allowed multiple baserunners after a pair of quick groundouts to start the top of the first, but the Houston Astros' ace was ultimately able to wiggle his way out of trouble. He struck out Josh Donaldson with an off-speed pitch down the middle, exiting the first inning after 21 pitches. 

Houston second baseman Jose Altuve will get things started for the Houston offense in the bottom of the first. He went 0-16 in three ALDS games with six strikeouts. —Michael Shapiro

As tends to be the case for playoff games in Houston, the roof at Minute Maid Park will be closed for Game 1 on Wednesday night. Despite fans missing out on the chance to take in ideal outdoor baseball weather, though, this could be a good thing for the Astros. Read more >>

Starting lineups | 6 p.m. CT

Below are the starting lineups for Game 1 of the ALCS.

New York Yankees lineup:

Gleyber Torres 2BAaron Judge RFAnthony Rizzo 1BGiancarlo Stanton LFJosh Donaldson 3BMatt Carpenter DHHarrison Bader CFIsiah Kiner-Falefa SSJose Trevino CStarting pitcher: Jameson Taillon

Houston Astros lineup:

Jose Altuve 2BJeremy Pena SSYordan Alvarez LFAlex Bregman 3BKyle Tucker RFYuli Gurriel 1BAledmys Diaz DHChas McCormick CFMartin Maldonado CStarting Pitcher: Justin Verlander 

The history between the Astros and Yankees only goes back to the early 2000's. However, with this being the fourth postseason meeting between the teams in eight years, a rivalry has been generated over the past decade. The results of these playoff matchups, as well as what unfolded during the 2022 regular season, favors Houston. Read more >>

The last time the Yankees & Astros played in the ALCS... pic.twitter.com/WuAWGnKUu6

— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 18, 2022

The Astros and Yankees have been involved in a pair of drama-filled ALCS showdowns in recent years, with various players rising to the occasion in each of these series—both of which resulted in Houston advancing to the Fall Classic. Chron's Michael Shapiro takes a look at which individuals could determine this year's ALCS. Read more >>

Few players have been more productive in October than Houston second baseman José Altuve, who enters the ALCS at No. 2 on the all-time MLB postseason home runs list. He's currently six back of Manny Ramirez's record of 29.

Chron's Josh Criswell ranked each of Altuve's 23 career playoff blasts. Read more >>

Astros announce ALCS roster | 4:22 p.m. CT

The Houston Astros made one slight change to their roster on Wednesday prior to Game 1 of the ALCS. Outfielder Jake Meyers, who went 0 for 2 with two strikeouts against the Seattle Mariners in the ALDS, has been replaced by relief pitcher Seth Martinez.

There were no other changes for the Astros' ALCS roster. Read more >>

How to watch

Game 1 of the ALCS will be broadcast on TBS, with pregame coverage beginning at 6 p.m. CT. Live streaming of the game is available on the TBS app.

Betting odds

At least in terms of betting odds, the Astros are fairly significant favorites ahead of Game 1.

As of early Wednesday afternoon, DraftKings had Houston listed at -195 on the money line (i.e., a $195 bet on the Astros would net $100 in winnings) and +115 on the -1.5 run line (Houston to win by two or more runs). The Yankees were +165 on the money line and -135 on the +1.5 run line.

Houston has -210 odds to win the series, while New York is listed at +175. The Astros are also the favorite to win the World Series at +140.

Pitching matchup

AL Cy Young favorite Justin Verlander, who gave up four hits and one run in seven innings in his only appearance against the Yankees this year, will get the start for Houston. Jameson Taillon, a former standout at The Woodlands High School, is slated to take the mound for New York.

Verlander led the MLB in the regular season in ERA (1.75) and WHIP (0.829), while his 18-4 record gave him the best winning percentage in the American League. However, he is looking to end a trend of troubling playoff results. After giving up 10 hits and six earned runs in four innings against the Mariners in Game 1 of the ALDS, Verlander has now allowed 20 earned runs over his last 30 innings of postseason baseball.

Taillon got rocked in his only appearance against Houston this year, giving up 10 hits and six earned runs in 5 2/3 innings, but he did post respectable overall numbers for the season. Taillon finished the year with a 14-5 record and 3.91 ERA.