HOUSTON _ Masahiro Tanaka will start Friday's opening game of the American League Championship Series for the Yankees against the Astros, the team announced on its official Twitter feed.
Tanaka, who pitched seven shutout innings in Game 3 of the AL Division Series against the Indians, will face Astros left-hander Dallas Keuchel in a rematch of the 2015 AL wild-card game, which the Astros won, 3-0. First pitch is scheduled for 8:08 p.m. Eastern.
In choosing Tanaka, manager Joe Girardi bypassed Sonny Gray, the losing pitcher in Game 1 of the ALDS. Gray went 3 1/3 innings and allowed three runs in the Yankees' 4-0 loss.
The team also announced that Luis Severino will start Game 2 vs. Justin Verlander and CC Sabathia will start Monday's Game 3 at Yankee Stadium against a pitcher to be named. Gray will start Game 4 for the Yankees.
