Yankees Host Astros in Crucial AL Wild Card Showdown

Bronx, NY — An old rivalry reignites Friday night as the New York Yankees host the Houston Astros at Yankee Stadium for Game 1 of their weekend series. The stakes are high for both teams, with the Yankees holding a slim 1.5-game lead over the Texas Rangers and Cleveland Guardians for the final American League wild card spot.

The Astros, meanwhile, are just 1.5 games ahead of the Seattle Mariners in the AL West division. As the 2025 season draws to a close, both teams need strong performances to solidify their playoff aspirations.

New York is a slight favorite on the moneyline, but they will face Astros ace Hunter Brown, who boasts a 2.47 ERA. The Yankees will counter with rookie Cam Schlittler, making just his fifth major league start.

Hitting has been tough for opponents facing Brown this season, with a batting average of only .194 against him. Statcast data shows Brown ranks in the 80th percentile in expected batting average allowed, highlighting his effectiveness on the mound.

In the last month, the Yankees have struggled offensively, ranking 27th in MLB batting average. They nearly faced back-to-back series sweeps before securing a victory over the Texas Rangers on Wednesday. Schlittler has given up at least two runs in each of his previous outings, with a 5.96 FIP and an expected ERA of 5.01.

With Houston holding a strong record of 14-8 in games started by Brown and a consistent ability to limit earned runs, oddsmakers view this matchup as a potential opportunity to bet on the Astros. As the Astros look to maintain their lead, the Yankees will need to rise to the occasion on their home turf.

As the game approaches, excitement builds among fans eager to see how this critical matchup unfolds and impacts the AL playoff race.