Severino, then Sabathia for Yanks in Games 3, 4
BOSTON >> Severino will start Game 3 of the AL Division Series for the Yankees and CC Sabathia will start Game 4 against the Red Sox if necessary.
That’s the word from Yankees manager Aaron Boone.
Boone announced the rotation before the series opener on Friday night. J.A. Happ was scheduled to face Chris Sale in Game 1, with Masahiro Tanaka starting Game 2 for New York against David Price.
Severino started the AL wild-card game against Oakland on Wednesday night, pitching four shutout innings as the Yankees advanced to the ALDS. He would be on the usual four days’ rest.
The Red Sox have said Sale and Price will be followed by Rick Porcello in Games 2 and 3 and Nathan Eovaldi in Game 4, if necessary.
ASTROS 7, INDIANS 2 HOUSTON >> George Springer and the Houston Astros picked up right where they left off last postseason, hitting four home runs to power past the Cleveland Indians in Game 1 of the AL Division Series.
Alex Bregman, Jose Altuve and Martin Maldonado also connected for the Astros, who hit a World Series-record 15 homers last year in winning their first championship.
Much was made about the pitching prowess these teams possess in the days leading up to this game. But it was a bunch of longballs to put the Astros ahead in this best-of-five series.
Houston’s pop backed up a solid start by Justin Verlander, who bested Corey Kluber in a matchup of Cy Young Award-winning aces in the first postseason meeting between these teams. Verlander took a nohitter into the sixth inning and allowed two hits and two runs in 5 1/3 innings for his 12th career playoff win.
Kluber, a two-time Cy Young winner who was coming off his first 20win season, was tagged for three home runs in 4 2/3 innings. It was a repeat performance from last October’s ALDS, when he made two starts against the Yankees and left with a 12.79 ERA.
BREWERS 4, ROCKIES 0 MILWAUKEE >> Jhoulys Chacin and the Milwaukee bullpen kept in control, Mike Moustakas contributed two more big hits and the Brewers beat the Colorado Rockies for a commanding 2-0 lead in their NL Division Series.
The Brewers won their 10th straight game going back to their impressive finish to the regular season. Erik Kratz had two hits and drove in two runs, Hernan Perez hit two ground-rule doubles and Milwaukee’s bullpen closed the door after Chacin delivered in his playoff debut.
Game 3 is Sunday at Coors Field. Another win, and Milwaukee is into the NL Championship Series for the first time since its previous postseason appearance in 2011.