Even with a pep talk from the grand old man of the mound, there is no way to simulate how a playoff game really feels. C.C. Sabathia tried to warn James Paxton during the regular season, tried to tell his new teammate that October baseball is no different.

“It’s the same game, just bigger stakes,” Sabathia told him, but Paxton’s first taste was too much. In his postseason debut this month, Paxton could not complete five innings.

“I couldn’t feel my body the entire time,” he said. “It was just numb.”

His next start was even worse. Paxton failed to last three innings on Sunday during Game 1 in Houston, and on Friday the Yankees had no more time to wait. Facing elimination in Game 5 of the American League Championship Series — matched against the active pitcher with the most wins in the majors now that Sabathia’s career has ended — Paxton delivered.

The Yankees rode an early outburst against Justin Verlander and six steely innings from Paxton to a 4-1 victory in the Bronx. The teams will decide the A.L. pennant this weekend at Minute Maid Park, with a matchup of bullpens in Game 6 on Saturday and the Yankees’ Luis Severino facing the Astros’ Gerrit Cole in Game 7, if necessary, on Sunday.