The two underdogs in the American League Divisional Series didn't take care of business at home in closeout games, and now the onus falls on them to deliver on the road in a pair of decisive Game 5 affairs.
The Kansas City Royals and Toronto Blue Jays both appeared left for dead at one point or another in their ALDS experiences, but they're still standing after a couple of exhilarating contests. Things are just beginning to pick up in October, and a pair of winner-take-all showdowns will amplify that.
Here's a look into Wednesday's Game 5 action.
ALDS Game 5 Schedule
Live streaming available on Fox Sports Go.
Game 5: Texas Rangers at Toronto Blue Jays
What has looked like a transcendent season for the Toronto Blue Jays nearly got derailed in their opening to the ALDS against the Texas Rangers. But they showed their championship resolve by fighting back into the series.
After dropping two games at home before taking both Games 3 and 4 in Texas, the Blue Jays are tasked with taking down Texas one last time in order to punch their ticket to the ALCS.
Toronto could have chosen to keep David Price out of the game in Game 4 in order to preserve his starting chances in the decisive game, but it didn't go that way. The Blue Jays inserted Price into a six-run game in Game 4.
“It wasn’t an easy decision,” manager John Gibbons told Brendan Kennedy of the Toronto Star. “It was hard for me to do, but I thought that was the best way to win the game, keep them from coming back.”
Instead, Toronto gives the ball to Marcus Stroman in Game 5, who appears ready, per MLB:
With that said, Stroman didn't perform near his best the last time out, allowing Texas a 6-4 win by giving up four runs in seven innings. Meanwhile, the Rangers strut out one of their aces in Cole Hamels.
Unlike Toronto, Texas has its ace on the mound as the Rangers' pitching coach told ESPN's Jean-Jacques Taylor.
"I remember going back into Tampa in 2010, and we felt pretty good because we had the right guy with the ball," Rangers pitching coach Mike Maddux said. "I think we've got the same thing working right now."
In decisive games like this, it often comes down to which team can boast the strongest pitching in the early innings. That will be Texas, who has already proved this postseason that it performs better on the road.
That will continue as the Rangers push their way into baseball's final four.
Prediction: Rangers 5, Blue Jays 3
Game 5: Houston Astros at Kansas City Royals
It's pretty remarkable that the Royals are returning home to Kansas City without plans to clean out their lockers.
It certainly seemed that would be the case late in Game 4, when the Houston Astros took a four-run lead and pushed the Royals mere outs away from elimination. Four runs marked the biggest deficit Kansas City had overcome all season, but it did it again in Game 4 to keep its season alive.
That improved the Royals' record in elimination games, which bodes well for Wednesday as ESPN Stats & Info observed:
Kansas City would appear to have all the momentum on its side, but that really comes down to how Houston reacts to this situation. The Astros had all of the momentum up until a Royals run in Game 4 that happened in the blink of an eye, and they could find that extra gear again Wednesday.
Johnny Cueto getting the ball for the Royals could help Houston in that regard, as the Astros jumped on Cueto in his first start of the series. But Kansas City's bats bailed him out, embarking on a Game 2 comeback.
Just when it has seemed like it just isn't the Royals' year, they turn it on and put the opposition away. Cueto will do everything he can to limit the Astros' home run power and allow his bats a chance to knock them into the ALCS.
Prediction: Royals 4, Astros 2
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