HOUSTON — Perhaps the most striking advantage the Yankees have going into the ALCS is the fact Houston had to use both Justin Verlander and Gerrit Cole twice to beat the Rays in the ALDS.

The workload of the two right-handers means Zack Greinke will start Game 1 for Houston on Saturday at Minute Maid Park.

It also means the Astros likely need a fourth starter for Game 4, which could be Jose Urquidy, though Houston manager A.J. Hinch noted now that the Yankees have embraced the use of the opener, anything is possible.

“They use the opener,” Hinch said during a press conference Friday. “The Yankees use the opener. It’s official. It’s part of baseball now. And that challenge that they have, there’s so many guys they can go to in creative ways.”

He pointed to the depth of the Yankees’ bullpen, which the Astros will have a hard time matching.

But the Astros also have to figure out how to make Greinke more effective than he was in Game 3 of the ALDS against Tampa Bay, when he allowed six runs in 3 ²/₃ innings.

The righty has a 9.49 ERA in his last three postseason outings.

Houston hopes the long layoff before his ALDS start played a role in Greinke’s struggle.

“I’d imagine it affected him a little bit for the feel of his pitches, specifically his change-up,’’ Hinch said. “That’s what we got burned on against Tampa. And some of that was just they put good swings on some pitches and some of it was he threw it in some areas they controlled the strike zone a little bit. … You put any pitcher, rested, not rested, extra rest, short rest, and you don’t execute your pitches against these teams at this level, you’re going to get hurt.’’

Greinke doesn’t typically elaborate on his thoughts to the media, and he was no different Friday.

Asked if the long layoff impacted him the last time, Greinke said: “I don’t know.”

And he didn’t place much importance on his previous outings against the Yankees this season, both made before his July trade from Arizona to Houston.

“Their whole team was hurt both times that I faced them, pretty much,’’ Greinke said.

Hinch, though, said he isn’t worried about Greinke’s playoff trouble.

“As far as margin for error, he’s got the same margin for error that he’s had for having a league-leading ERA the last few years, approaching 20 wins and Cy Youngs,’’ Hinch said. “I’m not walking on eggshells the days he pitches because he throws 88 to 90 miles an hour.”