The Cleveland Guardians are ALDS-bound.
After they entered the 2022 season with almost zero expectations, their dream season continues.
They’ll open up the ALDS tomorrow against the New York Yankees after taking care of business against the Tampa Bay Rays in the Wild Card Series.
Cleveland won that series on Oscar Gonzalez‘s walk-off home run in the 15th inning on Saturday.
And in doing so, the Guardians accomplished a rare feat.
Of the four teams who opened up the postseason at home, the Guardians were the only one to advance.
The Toronto Blue Jays were swept by the young upstart Seattle Mariners, and both the New York Mets and St. Louis Cardinals fell short.
So much for the coveted home-field advantage:
The Cleveland #Guardians were the only home team to advance.— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) October 10, 2022
Guardians Accomplish Rare Feat
It’s crazy to think that only one home team got past the first round.
Even the Mets, who had Max Scherzer, Jacob deGrom, and Chris Bassitt lined up for the series against the San Diego Padres, were unable to advance past the Wild Card round.
But the Guardians may just have some of that magic this October.
This is a team that has flown under the radar all season long and will likely continue to do so against the Yankees and whoever else they match up against, depending upon how far this incredible run takes them.
With Shane Bieber and Triston McKenzie heading up the rotation, the Guardians are going to be a scary opponent.
The magic may just continue all the way to the World Series.
But when only one higher seed makes it out of the first round, it just goes to show how odd of a game baseball can truly be.
It might just be the year of the underdogs.
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