BATTLE OF HEAVYWEIGHTS ON TAP

HOUSTON — It’s the American League Championship Series matchup most everyone expected entering the season. But the paths the Astros and Yankees took to get here weren’t what either team envisioned.

‘‘It’s definitely been brewing,’’ Astros righthander Justin Verlander said. ‘‘We heard from the first series we played each other, ‘Here’s an ALCS preview,’ [and] it worked out.’’

The Astros led the majors with a franchise-record 107 victories but needed five games to dispose of the Rays in the AL Division Series. The Yankees overcame a laundry list of injuries to win 103 games and their first AL East title since 2012, then flattened the Twins in three games in the ALDS.

‘‘Both teams earned their way here,’’ Astros manager AJ Hinch said. ‘‘I think both teams had injuries. Both teams played well in the face of expectations, and it’s just not a simple plug-and-play season. One-hundred and sixty-two games will expose you to a lot of different challenges.’’

Game 1 is Saturday in Houston after the Astros secured home-field advantage by posting the best record in the majors.

‘‘That’s huge for us that we get to start the ALCS here,’’ Astros second baseman Jose Altuve said. ‘‘We like it here. The stadium gets so loud that sometimes that helps us.’’

While the Astros have home-field advantage, the Yankees might have some other edges. Because they swept their series, they will have had four days of rest and will have their entire pitching staff available for Game 1.

The quick turnaround for the Astros means they won’t be able to start right-hander Gerrit Cole or Verlander in Game 1. Instead, they will go with 2009 AL Cy Young Award winner Zack Greinke, who struggled in a Game 3 loss to the Rays. Verlander will start Game 2 on Sunday in Houston, and Cole will get the nod in Game 3 on Tuesday in New York.

‘‘Three exceptional starting pitchers, and happy to line them up that way,’’ Hinch said.

The Yankees will counter with right-hander Masahiro Tanaka in Game 1, left-hander James Paxton in Game 2 and right-hander Luis Severino in Game 3.

‘‘Just felt like Masa here in Game 1 is the way I wanted to go,’’ Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. ✶