2018 – The Red Sox win the American League pennant by defeating Houston, 4 – 1, in Game 5 of the ALCS. David Price turns in a great performance, shutting out the Astros for the first 6 innings. All of Boston’s runs score on long balls, a solo shot by J.D. Martinez in the 3rd and three-run homer by Rafael Devers in the 6th, both off Justin Verlander. Jackie Bradley, who had 9 RBIs in the series, is named the winner of the ALCS MVP Award.

In the NLCS, the Brewers and Dodgers are locked in a 1 – 1 tie until the bottom of the 13th inning, when Cody Bellinger drives in Manny Machado with the winning run on a two-out single, the first run by the Dodgers since the 1st inning. The contest lasts 5 hours and 15 minutes, and requires the use of 16 pitchers.

The Red Sox win Game 3 of the ALCS, 8 – 2, as Steve Pearce breaks a 2 – 2 tie in the 6th with a solo homer just inside the left field foul pole and Jackie Bradley hits a grand slam off Roberto Osuna in the 8th.

2018 – In Game 3 of the NLCS, the Brewers open the scoring in the 1st on a double by Ryan Braun, then add a run in the 6th on a wild pitch and two more on a homer by Orlando Arcia in the 7th, all against Walker Buehler. Meanwhile, Jhoulys Chacin and four relievers combine on a shutout as Milwaukee defeats the Dodgers, 4 – 0.

2018 – The Red Sox knot up the 2018 ALCS with a 7 – 5 win over the Astros in Game 2. For the first time of his career, David Price is on the winning end of one of his postseason starts, although he falls one out short of qualifying for the win, which goes to Matt Barnes. After Marwin Gonzalez puts Houston ahead with a two-run homer over the Green Monster in the 3rd, Jackie Bradley hits a bases-clearing double off Gerrit Cole in the bottom of the inning that gives Boston a 5 – 4 lead it will never relinquish.

The Astros benefit from some largesse from Boston’s pitchers as they issue 10 walks and hit 3 batters to win Game 1 of the 2018 ALCS, 7 – 2. Four of Houston’s five hits drive in at least a run, including a pair of 9th-inning homers by Josh Reddick and Yuli Gurriel that provide 4 insurance runs. Justin Verlander also temporarily loses the plate, issuing 3 walks and a wild pitch in the 5th to allow the Red Sox to tie the score at 2, before a hit batsman, an error and a well-timed two-out single by Carlos Correa off Joe Kelly puts Houston ahead to stay in the 6th.

A two-run homer by Justin Turner off Jeremy Jeffress in the 8th completes a comeback from a 3 – 0 deficit and gived the Dodgers a 4 – 3 win over the Brewers in Game 2 of the NLCS. The Dodgers overcome solo homers by Orlando Arcia and Travis Shaw, and a steal of a potential two-run shot by CF Lorenzo Cain, who snatches David Freese’s hit over the outfield fence in the 1st.

The Red Sox win Game 4 of the ALDS, 4 – 3 over the Yankees to move on to the ALCS. They rough up CC Sabathia for three runs in three innings before Christian Vazquez homers to lead off the 4th against Zach Britton. The Yanks manage to score twice against Craig Kimbrel in the 9th to move within one run, but Gleyber Torres grounds out on a close play to end the game, stranding two baserunners.

The Dodgers eliminate the Braves with a 6 – 2 win in Game 4 of the NLDS. Trailing 2 – 1 in the 6th, they score twice on a pinch single by David Freese then add three more runs on a homer by Manny Machado in the 7th.

The Astros complete a sweep of the Indians with an 11 – 3 win in Game 3 of the ALDS. Cleveland heads into the top of the 7th leading 2 – 1 at home after a solid start by Mike Clevinger, but its beleaguered bullpen gives up 9 runs over the next two nightmarish innings to blow the game away. George Springer homers twice and Carlos Correa hits a three-run shot for Houston.