The Yankees clinched a wild card berth on October 1,[2] while the Astros clinched a wild card berth on October 4, the final day of the regular season.

[3] The Yankees hosted the game, as they finished the regular season with a better win–loss record.

[4] Houston's Dallas Keuchel struck out seven batters and allowed only three hits in six innings of work, at one point retiring ten batters in a row before the Yankees had their one key threat come in the 6th with two base runners before a flyout to centerfield ended the threat.

[5] The Astros were paced offensively by leadoff home runs by Colby Rasmus in the second inning and Carlos Gómez in the fourth, as New York starter Masahiro Tanaka struggled to find command of his pitches.

[7] Houston's Jose Altuve scored Jonathan Villar from second base in the seventh inning against Yankee reliever Dellin Betances, the final run of the game.