MLB Wild Card: Best Social Buzz Ahead of AL Wild Card Game

There's no turning back now, folks. On Tuesday (8:05 p.m. ET on ESPN), the Houston Astros visit the New York Yankees in a do-or-die American League Wild Card Game to kick-start the 2015 playoffs, with a trip to the American League Division Series against the Kansas City Royals awaiting the winner.

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The AL #WildCard Game is set: @Astros-@Yankees, Tuesday night in the Bronx. http://t.co/791NbISAbJ pic.twitter.com/VosxIdF4tH

— MLB (@MLB) October 4, 2015"

The Yankees (87-75), competing in their first playoff game since 2012, earned home-field advantage when the Astros (86-76) lost to the Arizona Diamondbacks on Sunday.

Not that a trip to the Bronx is of any concern to Houston manager A.J. Hinch. His team won two of three games in Yankee Stadium this season in a 4-3 series win.

And Astros pitcher Dallas Keuchel certainly doesn't mind playing in New York.

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Dallas Keuchel: 5-8 w/ 3.77 ERA on the road this season But in 1 start at Yankee Stadium: 7 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 9 K pic.twitter.com/rHFduPe68y

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) October 5, 2015"

In fact, the 27-year-old lefty doesn't mind playing the Yankees full stop.

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Dallas Keuchel faced 16 teams this season (a varying number of times each). The only team that did not score off him was the Yankees.

— Evan Drellich (@EvanDrellich) October 5, 2015"

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Dallas Keuchel in 2 starts vs #yankees this season - 2-0, 16 IP, 9 hits, 0 runs, 1 walk, 21 K's. #astros

— Dan Shulman (@DShulman_ESPN) October 5, 2015"

Keuchel, who led the AL with 20 wins, will square off against Yankees pitcher Masahiro Tanaka. The 26-year-old was 12-7 with a 3.51 ERA this season and hasn't allowed more than three earned runs in nine of his past 10 starts at home.

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AL Wild Card Astros/Yankees Keuchel: 16 IP, 0 R vs NY in 2015 Tanaka: 3.06 ERA in last 5 starts Tuesday, 7 ET ESPN pic.twitter.com/7itCzSnOGf

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) October 5, 2015"

Look away now, Keuchel...

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Perspective:starting pitchers today salary- Dallas Keuchel's salary $524,500 and Tanaka $22 million / it's hard out here for an ace #Astros

— David Nuño (@DavidNunoABC13) October 6, 2015"

Despite being one of the league's most talented pitchers, the Astros hitters have had success against Tanaka.

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Very small sample, but interesting: Astros' hitters 11-for-34 vs. Masahiro Tanaka, 4 doubles, 3 homers. http://t.co/1c762hETPj

— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) October 5, 2015"

And Tanaka's numbers against the Astros on June 27 were less than impressive.

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Masahiro Tanaka, already announced NYY starter Tuesday, faced the #Astros on June 27 at MMP in a 9-6 win. 5 IP, 7 H, 6 ER, 2 BB, 5 K, 3 HR

— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) October 4, 2015"

Joe Girardi's team will face the Astros—and any further playoff games—without CC Sabathia after the pitcher announced Monday he will spend the postseason in an alcohol rehab center.

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Sabathia's statement: "Being an adult means being accountable. Being a baseball player means that others look up to you."

— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) October 5, 2015"

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Sabathia: "I want my kids — and others who may have become fans of mine… to know that I am not too big of a man to ask for help."

— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) October 5, 2015"

The 35-year-old added in a statement:

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I love baseball and I love my teammates like brothers, and I am also fully aware that I am leaving at a time when we should all be coming together for one last push toward the World Series. It hurts me deeply to do this now, but I owe it to myself and to my family to get myself right. I want to take control of my disease, and I want to be a better man, father and player.

"

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We all support you, Big Man. #WePlayForCC #Teammates #Brothers

— Alex Rodriguez (@AROD) October 6, 2015"

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Girardi: When CC came in yesterday, I was no longer a manager. I was somebody who wanted to make sure the right course of action was taken.

— YES Network (@YESNetwork) October 5, 2015"

According to Emily Smith, Danika Fears and Frank Rosario of the New York Post, Sabathia spent the majority of the Yankees' final regular-season series in Baltimore "pounding drinks at a hotel."

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Love you @CC_Sabathia get well ! @Yankees

— Doug Ellin (@mrdougellin) October 5, 2015"

Sabathia's absence is certainly a blow to the Yankees.

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Yankees will be without their most experienced MLB postseason pitcher in the playoffs in CC Sabathia pic.twitter.com/ztH2eZ3cGN

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) October 6, 2015"

New York struggled late in the regular season, losing six of their last seven games, and are 29-31 since Aug. 1. But let's cast our minds back to 2000 and how that World Series-winning Yankees team ended its regular season...

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The 2000 Yankees lost 14 of their last 17 and won 87 games, looking sluggish heading into the playoffs. 2015 Yanks might not look too bad...

— Chris Perkowski (@doctor_perk) October 6, 2015"

It's hard to predict the winner of this one. Keuchel has had a Cy Young Award-caliber season but has never pitched on three days' rest before. The Yankees have several experienced leaders, none more so than Alex Rodriguez, but A-Rod has hit just two home runs since Sept. 12.

All of this means we can expect a close-fought game. Perfect for the neutral, torture for fans of either team.

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When you realize it's officially Tuesday in Houston and the #Astros are in the #WildCard game tonight. #HustleTown pic.twitter.com/fENES0FQju

— Houston Astros (@astros) October 6, 2015"

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Cheering for New York baseball in the @MLB #postseason! Good luck to the @Yankees and @Mets!

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) October 6, 2015"

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Pretty easy to predict what @AROD will do in the playoffs, same as @NickSwisher used to do - nothing. @Yankees @MLB @MLBplayoffs

— Brian P. Fisher Sr. (@bpfish36) October 4, 2015"

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#Yankees #Astros wild card prediction. Yanks win 4-2 Beltran- 2-4 2 run HR Refsnyder- 1-4 HR Ellsbury: RBI Single Tanaka: 7 IP 2 ER

— Tom Smith (@SMITTYWHHS) October 6, 2015"

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Woke the roommate up by screaming "IT'S POSTSEASON DAY" only time I'm a morning person is when the @astros are in the postseason #HustleTown

— Ali (@AliKonow) October 6, 2015"

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Today's agenda includes lots of staring at the clock. #Astros #WildCard

— Bobby Dynamite (@AstrosTrainGuy) October 6, 2015"

The Yankees are 66-3 when leading after six innings, per Yahoo Sports' Mark Townsend, so it's important they get off to a fast start. Whether that's possible with Keuchel on the mound remains to be seen.

The Astros ranked No. 2 in home runs this season, the Yankees No. 4. They combined for 442 homers. This one should be fun.