Whereas the NLCS has two unlikely participants in the big dance, the ALCS boasts the two best teams in the league duking it out for the right to advance to the World Series. The Houston Astros and New York Yankees both dashed the hopes of Cinderella hopefuls and are now set for a blockbuster series between the MLB’s resident antiheroes.

Nitrobetting is ready to lend a hand to its bettors with their winning bets to be shot out of the park. This time, let’s take a closer look at the upcoming American League Championship Series showdown between the New York Yankees and the Houston Astros.

2022 ALCS Series Preview: Yankees vs. Astros

READ MORE: Phillies vs. Padres 2022 NLCS Series Odds and Preview

What to Know About the New York Yankees

• Odds to Win 2022 ALCS Series: +102

With their backs against the wall, the New York Yankees managed to fend off the feisty Cleveland Guardians and came back from a 2-1 series hole to win the next two games and advance from the ALDS in five games. New York scored four or more runs in four of the five meetings against the Guardians, with Cleveland doing a terrific job of containing the Yanks’ bats for the most part.

During the 5-1 victory in the series-clinching Game 5, though, the Yankees’ biggest stars came alive at the right moment. All-Star slugger Giancarlo Stanton hit a three-run blast in the opening inning, and AL MVP frontrunner Aaron Judge also went yard with a solo homer in the second to give the Bronx Bombers an early four-run lead that they wouldn’t surrender.

As potent as New York’s offense is, the same could also be said about its pitching staff. Aces Gerrit Cole and Nestor Cortes had phenomenal starts in the ALDS but will need more time to rest in preparation for their series against Houston. Luckily, Jameson Taillon and Luis Severino round out the Yankees’ starting rotation and are reliable enough to set up huge road wins over the first two games of the series.

What to Know About the Houston Astros

• Odds to Win 2022 ALCS Series: -123

Leave it to the Houston Astros to spoil the Seattle Mariners’ Cinderella run. Houston made it clear to who’s the best team in the AL West this season, sweeping the fan-favorite Mariners in three games in the AL Wild Card round.

It was a hard-fought series by the Astros, though, as they won each of those three games by no more than two runs apiece. They needed a three-run walk-off home run from Yordan Alvarez for a come-from-behind win in Game 1 and were also bailed out by six scoreless innings from starter Lance McCullers in Game 3 before the bullpen clinched the series by continuing the shut-out of Seattle through 18 grueling innings of playoff baseball action.

Shortstop Jeremy Pena was the hero of Game 3 as his solo homer in the top of the 18th inning sent the Astros to the NLCS. But for as equally potent as Houston’s offense is compared to New York’s, it’s the Astros who have a rather significant edge in pitching, especially with their relievers. Facing the well-rested starting duo of Justin Verlander and Framber Valdez will be tough outs in Minute Maid Park for the Yanks, and it’s also worth noting that Judge struggled to hit against the Astros’ pitching corps this entire season (.148 batting average, just two HRs in 31 at-bats).

Yankees vs. Astros Betting Trends

• The Yankees are 3-3 on the road this month of October.
• The Yankees are 4-6 in the last 10 postseason outings.
• The totals have gone under in five of the last New York games in general.
• The Astros are 6-1 at home this current month.
• The Astros went 5-2 against the Yanks this season.
• The totals went under in four of those seven Astros vs. Yankees matchups in the 2022 regular season.

Yankees vs. Astros 2022 ALCS Series Expert Betting Predictions

In this clash between two AL heavyweights, it appears that the Astros have the advantage with their phenomenal pitching staff. Then again, the Yankees have that playoff mystique to counter the Astros’ own recent postseason success. If New York manages to steal a game in Houston in Game 1 or Game 2, the team has a shot of representing the American League in the World Series this year. Otherwise, the Astros should prevail victorious in no fewer than six games.

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