Preview/Prediction

The Cleveland Indians have a 3-1 lead in the American League Championship Series, so there's nothing at all for Terry Francona and his team to be worried about, right?

To borrow a phrase from ESPN college football analyst Lee Corso, not so fast, my friend.

The Indians have a couple of issues after losing their first game of the postseason Tuesday against the Blue Jays.

The Toronto Blue Jays lived to fight another day after a 5-1 victory over the Cleveland Indians on Tuesday evening in Game 4 of the American League Championship Series. 

Now, with their series deficit at 3-1 and the Indians once again one win away from their first World Series appearance since 1997, a quick turnaround awaits both teams, as the first pitch of Game 5 is on Wednesday afternoon:

The Cleveland Indians continue to shock the baseball world. 

Even though starting pitcher Trevor Bauer had to come out of Game 3 with a bleeding pinkie finger in the first inning, the Cleveland Indians came through with a 4-2 win at the Rogers Centre, and they are on the verge of knocking out the Toronto Blue Jays and advancing to the World Series.

With the Los Angeles Dodgers dropping Game 1 of the National League Championship Series and staring at a 2-0 deficit, they put all their faith in Clayton Kershaw. Once again, the best pitcher in baseball rewarded that faith.

The Cleveland Indians are just one win away from the World Series after a dramatic victory over the Toronto Blue Jays in Game 3 of the ALCS Monday night, while the Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Dodgers are deadlocked in a tightly contested NLCS.

The Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Dodgers split the first two games of their National League Championship Series matchup, and the series now shifts to Dodger Stadium for a pivotal Game 3.

Miguel Montero delivered the big blow with a pinch-hit grand slam in Game 1, as the Cubs picked up a thrilling 8-4 victory in front of the home fans.

They ran into a buzz saw in Game 2, though, as Clayton Kershaw and Kenley Jansen combined for a two-hit shutout, and the Dodgers earned a 1-0 victory behind a solo home run from Adrian Gonzalez.

Show me someone who, back in October 2015, predicted that two major Cleveland sports teams would make it to their respective championship rounds in 2016, and I'll show you an irrational Clevelander. 

However, as of Monday night, the Cleveland Indians are just one win away from turning that fantasy into a stunning reality as they try to follow in the footsteps of the defending NBA champion Cavaliers.

The Cleveland Indians are one win away from the World Series, but the Toronto Blue Jays are going to keep fighting until they are officially eliminated.

Any comeback in the American League Championship Series will have to start in Game 4, with the Blue Jays down 3-0 and facing the Indians' best pitcher. Clearly, it is going to be an uphill battle to get back in the series.

In the American League, the Cleveland Indians appear ready to rock their way to the World Series for the first time in nearly two decades. In the National League, the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs seem prepared for a toss-up classic.

Major League Baseball and its fans couldn’t have asked for much more in the first two games of the 2016 National League Championship Series.