Throw out perceptions here. Houston is a respectable 10-10 in its last 20 games. The Yankees are 9-11 in their last 20 games and have plenty of warts. They are not a legitimate playoff team.

Since the All-Star break, the Astros have averaged 4.6 runs, best in the American League and nearly a full run higher than what the Yankees have averaged during this time frame.

Houston starter Brett Oberholtzer is a better pitcher than over-the-hill Chris Capuano, a five-inning type pitcher who just turned 36. The Yankees are the fifth team Capuano has bounced around to during the last five years. He is 0-2 with a 4.13 ERA in four starts with New York. He'll have to deal with Jose Altuve, who is the best player on the field.

The southpaw Oberholtzer is 2-1 with a 2.63 ERA during his last six starts. Houston is 5-1 in these starts. The Yankees have dropped six of their last eight against lefties and have a losing mark on the season versus southpaws.

Key Yankee hitters Jacoby Ellsbury and Carlos Beltran are in a combined 2-for-45 slump. Their lack of production is a reason why the Yankees havne't produced more than four runs during any of their last seven games.