Written by Pablo Figueroa at Sporting Charts
After the Astros mounted an amazing comeback (3.5% winning odds entering the eighth!), and the Blue Jays flexed their muscles en route to a commanding 8-4 win, both ALDS matchups will head to a climactic Game 5 to set up the American League Championship Series. As baseball fans, it doesn´t get much better than this, as we will be able to watch a couple of early elimination games, which is probably what Bud Selig hoped for when MLB changed its playoff format for the 1995 season.
The best-of-5 division series was originally adopted for a single stint in 1981 (due to the strike-shortened season), only to then become a fixture under the expanded playoff system. While the Championship Series still requires 4 wins to advance, the short slate of the Division Series allows for tons of drama and exciting games, as well as the possibility of more elimination games. This year marks the 41st and 42nd American League Division Series we have seen since 1995, with now 16 of them going the full distance.
So as we prepare for an epic Wednesday as the Royals host the Astros, and the Blue Jays try to complete an improbable comeback against the Rangers, here are some of the most relevant and interesting facts and numbers from the previous ALDS that went to 5 games. While some of them may not seem pertaining to our current matchups, it is always important to look at past trends to have an idea what to expect.
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