The Astros have been waiting to find out who they will face in the American League Championship Series. That wait is now over.
The Astros will host the New York Yankees for the first two games of the series after New York came back from a two games to none deficit to beat the Cleveland Indians in the fifth and deciding game of the ALDS last night by a final of 5-2.
Games One and Two will be at Minute Maid Park starting tomorrow night. Game one gets underway after 7pm. Game two will be on Saturday afternoon.
The Astros have been on a roll since returning home after the damage Hurricane Harvey did to the city over a month ago. Astros television analyst Geoff Blum told our TV partner Channel 2 the team knows they have a special bond with the city.
"They want to win for themselves, they want to win for their organization," Blum said. "But if they can win for a city that they've truly connected with, I think it would make it that much more special."
As for the matchup against the Yankees, ‘Blummer’ says the team doesn’t care. They were ready for either New York or Cleveland.
"As a player, you're prepared for both," Blum said. "They have experience against both, and like I said, these guys are good enough and they understand the situation where I don't think it really matters to these guys. They understand how good they are."
And Blum adds that this team has already made themselves special in the eyes of Houstonians.
"These guys are going to be indelibly etched in everybody's memories here in Houston," Blum said. "These guys are going to live a very long time in the memory of Houston fans with the way they go out there and play."
Astros manager A.J. Hinch announced that Dallas Keuchel will start Game one on Friday night. Justin Verlander, coming off a relief appearance in the clinching victory over the Red Sox, gets the start in Game two.
You can listen to all the ALCS action on our sister station, Sports Talk 790.