Indians And Jays Both Up (2-0), Indians Likely To Open An ALCS At Home For The First Time

Both the Cleveland Indians and Toronto Blue Jays have (2-0) leads in their division series series and if each team wins as is likely, but far from certain, the Cleveland Indians, who also have never opened a World Series at home, would open a League Championship Series at home, for the first time.

The Indians and Blue Jays have combined to go (9-0) in as many games, all significant, four vs Boston and after the first four last Saturday and Sunday respectively got the Jays into the ‘offs and Cleveland home advantage vs Boston, the next four have made a Jays/Indians ALCS, opening in Cleveland, somewhat likely.

Of course anything can happen and there is precedent for an opposite result or two, involving the teams.

Certainly it is less likely the Texas Rangers now (1-11) in home division series games, will battle back to win vs Toronto, as the next two games are in Toronto.

However, though it, as so much in their history went against them, perhaps, the Rangers can rally around the fact that last year they won the first two games in Toronto, only to lose there, in the decisive 5th game of that division series.

There is plenty of precedent and hope for the Red Sox. Most of all the franchise broke an 86 year title drought, winning 3 titles in a 10 season span led by the great David Ortiz, now perhaps to be playing his final game. They are not the “cursed” Red Sox of those 86 years, sans a title.

They also return home as was the case after falling down (2-0) in division series they eventually won AT CLEVELAND in 1999 and at Oakland in 2003. Boston also won 3 straight vs the Indians, after falling down 3 games to one, in the best of seven ALCS in 2007.

It is not much of a call now, albeit far from certain, but Cleveland which opened the ALCS on the road in their four previous ALCS appearances vs four different teams, (Seattle in ’95, Baltimore in ’97 which were ALCS wins by the Indians and in losing efforts vs the Yankees in ’98 and the aforementioned 2007 ALCS vs Boston) is quite likely to open their 5th at home, vs the Toronto Blue Jays, a week from yesterday.