Yankees vs. Royals: ALDS matchups, predictions and preview

It’s the Yankees and Royals facing off in October, just as everyone predicted … in 1977.Nevertheless, the 86-win Royals are in the postseason just one year after losing 106 games.

Though much of the spotlight will be on Aaron Judge vs.Bobby Witt Jr.

and the impending free agency of Juan Soto, there’s plenty more to look at before the best-of-five series starts Saturday in The Bronx. The Post’s Dan Martin breaks down how the Yankees and Royals match up: Where do you start with Judge and Soto? In this case, it’s with their ability to get on base.Nobody in the majors was better at it than this duo, who ranked 1-2 in on-base percentage.

Gleyber Torres’ strong second half at the top of the lineup has only made them more dangerous.Witt led the majors in hits and — since we’re already talking about the ’70s — batting average.

Like with everything else surrounding the Royals, it all revolves around Witt.The Royals swept Baltimore in the wild-card round despite scoring three runs in two games. Edge: Yankees OK, we started with Judge and Soto getting on base, but maybe we should have done it here, since they lived up to expectations in this department following Soto’s arrival in a trade from San Diego last offseason.

Judge and Soto finished first and third in slugging percentage in the American League.Who snuck in between them? Witt, of course.

Giancarlo Stanton has been a weapon this season and typically is especially dangerous in the postseason.Rookie Austin Wells and new arrival Jazz Chisholm Jr.

have also supplied homers from the left side.Besides Witt, Salvador Perez hit 27 homers and Aaron Boone, who called Kansas City “a scary team,” mentioned the return of DH Vinnie Pasquantino from a fractured thumb suffered in late August as a key to Kansas City making it to the playoffs. Edge: Yankees Hold your breath, Yankees fans.

With Anthony Rizzo likely out for at least this series with two fractured fingers in his right hand, the Yankee...