The Indians win Game 2 of the ALCS, 2 – 1 over the Blue Jays, in a game that’s almost a carbon copy of Game 1. The Indians’ runs come on a solo homer by Carlos Santana and a single by Francisco Lindor that scores Rajai Davis, who had previously stolen second and moved to third on a wild pitch. Josh Tomlin is the winner against J.A. Happ.

The Cubs take the opening game of the NLCS, 8 – 4, over the Dodgers. The score is only 3 – 1 for the Cubs in the 8th, when a two-run, two-out single by Adrian Gonzalez off Aroldis Chapman ties it, but Chicago comes right back when pinch-hitter Miguel Montero hits a two-out grand slam off Joe Blanton, followed by a solo homer by Dexter Fowler.

2016 – The Indians win Game 1 of the ALCS, 2 – 0, over the Blue Jays, behind the combined pitching of Corey Kluber, Andrew Miller and Cody Allen. Francisco Lindor accounts for both runs with a homer off Marco Estrada in the 6th.

The Dodgers extend the Division Series by winning Game 4, 6 – 5, over the Nationals. Los Angeles takes a 5-2 lead behind Clayton Kershaw’s pitching and a two-run homer by Adrian Gonzalez, but Washington scores 3 in the 7th to tie it. Chase Utley drives in the winning run off Blake Treinen in the bottom of the 8th.

The Cubs clinch the other NLDS thanks to a tremendous 9th-inning comeback in San Francisco. Trailing 5 – 2 and looking completely anemic against Matt Moore, they victimize a parade of five different relievers to score 4 runs in the fateful inning and take the lead; Aroldis Chapman then saves his third game of the series with a perfect 9th to send the Giants packing, ending their string of three consecutive World Series wins in even-numbered years.

The Giants stave off elimination with a 6 – 5 win over the Cubs in Game 3 of the other NLDS. Jake Arrieta gives the Cubs an early lead with a three-run blast off Madison Bumgarner, and the game is closely fought until Joe Panik ends it after five hours and four minutes by driving in Brandon Crawford from second base with a double in the 13th inning.

The Nationals win Game 3 of the NLDS, 8 – 3 over the Dodgers. Anthony Rendon homers off Kenta Maeda as part of a four-run 3rd inning, but Los Angeles comes back to within one run thanks in part to a two-run pinch homer by Carlos Ruiz off Gio Gonzalez in the 5th. The Nats put the game away with 4 runs in the top of the 9th, including a homer by Jayson Werth off closer Kenley Jansen.

The Indians complete a sweep of the Red Sox in the ALDS with a 4 – 3 win in Fenway Park. A two-run single by Tyler Naquin and a two-run homer by Coco Crisp give them an early lead, but Boston claws back in David Ortiz’s final game to close the lead to a single run; they have two men on board in the bottom of the 9th when closer Cody Allen registers the final out to earn his second save of the series.

Toronto sweeps its Division Series with a 7 – 6, 10-inning win over the Rangers. Toronto takes a quick lead on homers by Edwin Encarnacion and Russell Martin in the 1st, but Texas comes back with homers by Elvis Andrus and Rougned Odor, then takes a short-lived lead on a two-run double by Mitch Moreland in the 6th. The Blue Jays tie it up on a passed ball, however, and in Matt Bush’s third inning on the mound, Josh Donaldson scores the winning run from second base when Odor throws wildly to first in attempting to turn a double play.

In the NLDS, Los Angeles takes an early lead on a solo homer by Corey Seager, the second batter of the game, but a three-run blast by Jose Lobaton off Rich Hill in the 4th turns the tide, allowing Washington to win the game, 5 – 2.