Mammoth matchup: As predicted, Houston to face off with N.Y. Yankees

HOUSTON» It’s the AL Championship Series matchup most everyone expected entering the season.

But the paths the Houston Astros and New York Yankees took to get here weren’t exactly what either team envisioned.

“It’s definitely been brewing,” Houston ace Justin Verlander said. “We heard from the first series we played each other: ‘Here’s an ALCS preview’ (and) it worked out.”

Jose Altuve, Alex Bregman and the Astros led the majors with a franchise-record 107 wins but needed five games to dispose of the wild-card Tampa Bay Rays in the AL Division Series. Aaron Judge, Gary Sánchez and New York overcame a laundry list of injuries to win 103 games and its first AL East title since 2012, then flattened the Twins.

“Both teams got here and they earned their way here maybe not as easily as people want to think,” 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. Onehundred and sixty two games will expose you to a lot of different challenges.”

Game 1 is Saturday night in Houston after the Astros secured home-field advantage throughout the postseason by posting MLB’s best record.

“That’s huge for us that we get to start the ALCS here,” Altuve said. “We like it here. The stadium gets so loud that sometimes that helps us as players.”

While the Astros have homefield advantage, the Yankees could have some other edges. Since they swept their series they’ll have had four days of rest by Saturday’s game and will have their entire pitching staff available for the opener.