This game is the second series of the season between the Houston Astros and the New York Yankees. In the previous series where the two teams met, the Yankees swept the Astros 4-0 on the road, even breaking through the Astros’ highly regarded bullpen lineup, which contributed to a significant difference in momentum between the teams at the start of the season.

The starting pitchers for this game were:
(Astros) Justin Verlander vs. (Yankees) Luis Gil.

(Analysis of the starting pitchers before the game)

This year marks the 19th MLB season for Astros veteran Justin Verlander (2005-2024, missed the 2021 season due to Tommy John surgery). Now 41 years old, Verlander missed the start of the season due to a shoulder injury, negatively impacting the Astros’ starting rotation. Although Verlander’s pitch control is still impressive with a batting average against of only .213 this season—the lowest in three years—his control is not ideal this season, with a walk rate (BB%) of 10.3%, the highest of his career.

As for Yankees’ starting pitcher Luis Gil, although he had already made appearances for the Yankees in 2021-2022, he got more opportunities in the majors this season due to ace Gerrit Cole’s injury. Gil performed well in spring training this year. He has been very effective in suppressing batters this season, with a batting average against of only .155 and a high strikeout ability (K/9 over 9.00). However, Gil’s main issue at this stage is his high number of walks (20 walks in 31 1/3 innings), which is an area he needs to improve for better stability.

The game is discussed in 7 sections:
1️⃣ Game content (Astros 3:10 Yankees)
2️⃣ Performance of Yankees’ starting pitcher – Luis Gil
3️⃣ Performance of Astros’ starting pitcher – Justin Verlander
4️⃣ Performance of both teams’ bullpens in this game
5️⃣ Offensive performance of both teams
6️⃣ Some defensive details of the game
7️⃣ Additional issue: Why are the Astros performing so poorly this season?

Here are the highlights of the game, sourced from the MLB official YouTube channel.

This analysis will be split into two parts; the first part covers sections 1-3, and the second will cover sections 4-7, ending with a conclusion.

1️⃣ Game content (Astros 3:10 Yankees)

This game is the opening match of the series between the two teams, with the Astros having been swept 4-0 by the Yankees in the previous series (also the season opener), a memory neither the Astros team nor their fans are keen to recall. With the two teams having a heated rivalry in recent years, the Astros faced a lot of pressure facing the hot-performing Yankees at home this season. If the Astros could stabilize in this series, it could significantly boost their morale. Conversely, the Yankees’ players and fans would not miss this opportunity to assert their dominance at home, especially given the Astros’ current form.

In the first inning, Astros’ second batter Kyle Tucker hit a solo home run off Yankees’ starter Luis Gil, giving his team an early 1:0 lead.

However, the Yankees quickly retaliated in the bottom half of the inning. Fourth batter Alex Verdugo hit a three-run homer off Astros’ starter Justin Verlander, giving the Yankees a 3:1 lead and igniting their momentum for the game.

In the third inning, the Yankees extended their lead to 4:1 following hits from Juan Soto and Aaron Judge, coupled with a hit by Verdugo.

Anthony Volpe hit a two-run homer in the fourth inning, further extending the Yankees’ lead to 6:1.

Giancarlo Stanton added another run in the fifth with a solo home run, making it 7:1 in favor of the Yankees.

This was a challenging outing for Verlander, who allowed seven runs on eight hits over five innings, taking his first loss of the season.

In the sixth inning, the Yankees continued to expand their lead, eventually winning the game 10:3. This victory marked their fifth consecutive win against the Astros this season.

2️⃣ Performance of Yankees’ starting pitcher – Luis Gil

Yankees’ starter Luis Gil had an impressive outing, managing to keep the Astros to just one run over 6 1/3 innings despite issuing several walks. His effective use of a variety of pitches, including a well-utilized slider and changeup, played a significant role in his success.

3️⃣ Performance of Astros’ starting pitcher – Justin Verlander

Verlander struggled significantly in this game, surrendering three home runs and seven runs overall. His inability to suppress the Yankees’ powerful lineup marked a departure from his typically dominant performances, particularly in postseason matchups

against them.

Sources:
Baseball Reference
United News Network
Taiwan Baseball Wiki
MLB Official Website
Baseball Savant
Fangraphs