These teams split a pair of meetings to open the series as the Yankees rallied for a walk-off 7-6 win Thursday before the Astros bounced back with a 3-1 win behind Justin Verlander. In this one, Gerrit Cole carries the load for the Yankees on the mound. He has been razor sharp in his last two starts, surrendering only one run on six hits with four walks and 19 strikeouts over 13.1 innings. Those outings came on the heels of a miserable showing where he allowed five homers in 3.1 innings against the Twins. The Yankees have the bats to carry things and Cristian Javier has to be more consistent for the Astros. He doesn't go deep in games as he has thrown five innings or less in six of his last 10 appearances. That taxes a bullpen that has seen their share of work. Houston's lineup isn't as prolific as New York's: Cole does his work and Judge, Stanton, Torres and company take care of the rest.