The Houston Astros and the New York Yankees will get the American League Championship Series started with a matchup at Minute Maid Park Friday night. I don't see any other outcome than a home victory here with Dallas Keuchel pitching opposite Masahiro Tanaka.

Keuchel tossed six scoreless innings of five-hit ball against the Yankees back in May to improve to 5-2 with a 1.24 ERA in seven career meetings. He breezed through 5 2/3 frames in the ALDS, allowing just one run while fanning seven hitters.

Tanaka held Cleveland scoreless through seven innings of three-hit ball in the ALDS, but he was roughed up for eight runs and seven hits with four homers in just 1 2/3 innings against the Astros back in May. We can also note that Tanaka is 4-7 with a bloated 6.48 ERA in 15 outings on the road this season.

Yankees are 3-7 in their last 10 road games vs. a left-handed starter. Astros are 21-6 in Keuchel's last 27 starts during Game 1 of a series.

My selection is a 10* play on Houston Astros.