The Cleveland Guardians bested the Chicago White Sox 2-0 to win Game 5 of the ALDS.
Guardians starting pitcher Gavin Williams struck out 12 batters over 5.2 innings pitched. Cleveland pitchers struck out a combined 21 batters - a new MLB record for a 9-inning game. In 1962, Washington Senators pitcher Tom Cheney struck out 21 Baltimore Orioles batters over 16-innings.
Jose Ramirez supplied Cleveland's only two runs with a 2-run HR in the fourth inning.
The Guardians overcame a 0-2 deficit to end the Chisox's dream season two years removed from losing a modern-day MLB record 121 games. Nobody expected the South Siders to be playing October baseball.
Cleveland will head to St. Petersburg to take on the Tampa Bay Rays in the ALCS starting Monday night.
In the meantime, the NLCS rematch between the Milwaukee Brewers and the defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers begins tomorrow night at American Family Field in Milwaukee.
The Dodgers are seeking to become the first NL team to win three consecutive World Series titles. The Rays and Brewers have never won a World Series while the Guardians have not a won a World Series since 1948.
While MLB's owners insist on a salary cap in order not to lockout the players at the end of this year, the Brewers have the 19th lowest payroll in MLB while the Rays & Tribe are 28th & 29th out of 30 teams, respectively.
Let us consider the possible World Series matchups.
Tampa Bay Rays vs. Milwaukee Brewers
Tampa Bay Rays vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
Cleveland Guardians vs. Milwaukee Brewers
Cleveland Guardians vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
If the Rays face the Brewers, it will mark the first time since 1980 featuring both teams which had not won a World Series. That year, the Philadelphia Phillies bested the Kansas City Royals in six games.
Prior to 1980, the last time that had happened was 60 years earlier in 1920 when the Cleveland Indians beat the Brooklyn Robins for their first World Series title. The Robins, of course, are the Dodgers.
So, it would be the first World Series between these two teams in 106 years. But if the Rays vs. Dodgers, that would be the first time in 6 years.
With the Guardians & Brewers, it is between a team that hasn't won a World Series in 78 years and a team which has never won a World Series.
Like many people, for me it's anybody but the Dodgers and there's a 3 in 4 chance of that happening. With that said, it is hard to bet against the Dodgers. While I would not care for another Dodgers' World Series title, it would be a triumph of historical significance for the NL. Not only would the Dodgers become the first NL team to win 3 straight World Series, it would be their fourth World Series title this decade.
Let the games continue tomorrow night.
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