By: Sam Gubner

Kansas City Royals vs. Houston Astros

The first half of the series was all about the Astros as they outhit the Royals 13-9, and took an authoritative 2-1 series lead: only one game away from winning the series. However, in the fourth game, the tide turned after the Astros had a commanding 6-2 lead going into the seventh inning. Most fans believed the Astros were going to win and advance to the ALCS with such a great advantage. Even de Toledo’s own Sports and Culture Club picked the Astros to win this game with such a tremendous lead, but the Royals, led by first baseman Eric Hosmer, made a miraculous comeback to win 9-6, forcing a Game 5. In this winner-take-all Game 5, the Royals massacred the Astros to win the game 7-2, and in effect launch the Royals into an ALCS matchup against the Blue Jays. This win also gave the Royals a chance at redemption after losing to the Giants last year in the World Series.

Texas Rangers vs. Toronto Blue Jays

Bautista hits game winning home run to advance to first championship series in his 12-year career. (Photo by Dan Hamilton, USA Today Sports)

The Rangers, like the Astros, started this series strong, taking an early 2-0 series lead. With the Rangers one game away from an improbable series sweep the Blue Jays needed to do something to keep their World Series hopes alive, and that they did winning the next two games to tie the series at two. The seventh inning of the final winner-take-all game brought one of the most exciting innings in baseball history that started with Rougned Odor scoring a run to give the Rangers the lead under unique circumstances to say the least (click here to watch the play). Later that inning, Toronto’s Jose Bautista, who hadn’t gone to a championship series in his 12-year career, hit a three run homer to win the game, propelling the Blue Jays into the ALCS against the Royals.