Yankees fans chanted, “We want Houston,” during Game 5 of the ALDS but they may come to regret those words given their record against the Astros.
The Yankees avoided disaster in the ALDS against the Guardians, grabbing a 5-1 victory in Game 5 on Tuesday after a rain delay.
Now they have a quick turnaround to get ready for the ALCS against a familiar opponent: The Houston Astros.
Before Game 5 was even done, fans in New York were looking ahead to the next matchup. They chanted, “We want Houston!”
Wanting to move on to the Championship Series makes sense. Who wouldn’t? But wanting the Astros? That’s another question that Yankees fans may want to rethink.
Yankees fans may regret that “We want Houston!” chant
New York has never beaten the Astros in a playoff series. They met for the first time in the 2015 AL Wild Card, which Houston won 3-0. They met again in 2017 when Houston took the ALCS with a Game 7 victory which was later marred by the sign-stealing scandal. They had another ALCS battle in 2019, which the Astros also won, 4-2.
Moreover, Houston has had the advantage over the Yankees this season. They won five of their seven meetings in 2022.
The advantages don’t end there for the Astros. Rain delays moved the end of the ALDS to Tuesday, which means New York will have minimal time to celebrate their victory or rest before jumping on a plane to Houston.
Meanwhile, the Astros finished off the Mariners on Saturday. Their pitching staff and bullpen will be fresh. The Yankees will not.
On one hand, sports often follow a narrative. Exorcising demons against a playoff nemesis fits right into the story the Yankees will want for this postseason if they win a World Series at the end of it.
On the other hand, the Astros aren’t in this for New York’s narrative. And they would love nothing more than to shut those fans up with receipts.
