Yankees ALCS Game 2 report card; whose to blame?

Prediction

Going back to Yankee Stadium tied 1-1 is certainly not the worst-case scenario by any stretch. In 2017, the Yankees went back to New York down 2-0 and left with a 3-2 lead.

However, going back to the Bronx tied 1-1 is undoubtedly not the best-case scenario either. Gerrit Cole is better than any pitcher on that 2017 Houston staff, aside from Verlander.

Cole will lead the Astros to a victory in Game 3 before the Yankees come roaring back to win Games 4 and 5. I haven’t decided whether I believe the Yanks will win in 6 or 7, but I think they will find a way to win another game in Houston to take the series.

The best hope to make sure that the series doesn’t go back to Houston is if Severino is on his A-game on Tuesday. If Sevy can keep the Yankees in the game as their bullpen did in Game 2, I like the offense to wake up at home. Will Encarnacion find his groove? Will Giancarlo Stanton be healthy enough to play? Buckle up; it’s sure to be a crazy ride.