2010 ALCS Preview

ALCS
New York Yankees vs. Texas Rangers

Game 1 – Fri. – 8:00 – at Texas
C.C. Sabathia vs. C.J. Wilson

Game 2 – Sat. – 4:00 – at Texas
Phil Hughes v. Colby Lewis

Game 3 – Mon. – 8:00 – at New York
Andy Pettitte v. Cliff Lee

Game 4 – Tue. – 8:00 – at New York
A.J. Burnett v. Tommy Hunter

Game 5 – Wed. – 4:00 – at New York
Phil Hughes v. Colby Lewis

Game 6 – Fri. – 8:00 – at Texas
Andy Pettitte v. Cliff Lee

Game 7 – Sat. – 8:00 – at Texas
C.C. Sabathia v. C.J. Wilson

The marquee matchup of the ALDS will be Game 3 in New York when postseason ace in any uniform, Cliff Lee, faces postseason veteran Andy Pettitte. Lee is 6-0 with a 1.44 ERA in his seven postseason starts. Pettitte has won 18 postseason games and was the starter in all three of the Yankees’ clinching games in the 2009 postseason.

Unfortunately for the Rangers, Game 3 may be anticlimactic. C.J. Wilson and Colby Lewis must first negotiate the Yankees’ powerful lineup in Games 1&2. C.C. Sabathia will be heavily favored in Game 1, and Phil Hughes proved he was ready for prime time with a stellar start against the Twins in the ALDS.

While Lee may be a Yankee killer, he will make only two starts as he did last year for the Phillies in the World Series. He may not get an opportunity to make his second start this series.

The Yankees’ exceptional lineup and seasoned experience will be too much for the upstart Rangers. The future may be brighter in Texas than it is in New York as the Yankees are aging. But the present is much brighter in pinstripes.