5 things to know about Astros before Yankees’ daunting ALCS

1. The Astros nearly had three no-hitters this season, which would have made been an MLB first. Instead, they settled for two, becoming the 18th team to accomplish the feat. Zack Greinke, who previously said throwing a no-hitter would be a “hassle,” got two outs from throwing one against the Mariners during the season’s final week. Justin Verlander no-hit the Blue Jays on Sept. 1, and Aaron Sanchez, Will Harris, Joe Biagini and Chris Devenski combined for the other on Aug. 3 against the Mariners.

2. Astros GM Jeff Luhnow has pulled off some heists in recent years to make this roster a powerhouse without completely draining the farm system. One of the most unheralded moves came back in 2016,…