Written by Pablo Figueroa at Sporting Charts
Welcome back after a very exciting set of Division Series games to what is now the final step before the World Series. And while we catch our collective breath from a wild couple of ALDS Game 5´s, it is time to look at how the ALCS should look like starting this Friday. After all, both teams just completed epic, memorable comebacks only to arrive at this stage.
First, we have the Blue Jays, who became just the third team in MLB history to come back from a 0-2 deficit after losing two games at home on a best-of-5 series. This included a bizarre Game 5 in which the seventh inning became a sideshow on its own, the rulebook was analyzed like never before, the Rangers imploded (as they tend to do), and Jose Bautista settled it all with a monster homer and an even bigger bat flip. The Jays now have a chance to reach the franchise´s first World Series since 1993, and enter the ALCS as slight favorites.
On the other hand, the Royals had a less dramatic Game 5 of their own, as they won by 5 runs in the end following Kendrys Morales´ exclamation-point homer, and 22 consecutive batters retired by Johnny Cueto and Wade Davis. However, this was only possible by a shocking turnaround in Game 4, where the Astros held a 4-run lead entering the eighth inning and seemed all but certain to advance. As Kansas City took the lead and forced a Game 5, the Royals stayed calm and now advance to their second consecutive ALCS. The Royals have built a new reputation as the ultimate comeback team, having won all 3 of their games against Houston despite the Astros starting with the lead in all of them.
As the two best teams in the American League get ready to face off for a trip to the World Series, which includes home-field advantage for the winner, we take a look at some of the most important factors to consider in the series, how the matchups look, and make a pick in the end.
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