Tides Turn in ALCS, NLCS as Both Series Manage to Reach 7 Games For 4th Time Ever

The 2023 MLB Postseason has come a long way since all the Wild Card Series sweeps, with the ALCS and NLCS making history by both going the distance.

Late last week, it looked like the Texas Rangers and Philadelphia Phillies were cruising towards a showdown in the World Series.

The Houston Astros and Arizona Diamondbacks had other plans.

The Astros and Diamondbacks both dug themselves out of 2-0 holes in the ALCS and NLCS, respectively. Houston wound up leading its series 3-2 before dropping Game 6 on Sunday, while Arizona avoided elimination by winning its own Game 6 on Monday.

As a result, the ALCS and NLCS are both going to seven games, which is quite the rare occurrence in the modern playoff format.

According to MLB.com's Sarah Langs, this is just the fourth time that both the ALCS and NLCS have gone to seven games in the same year since the League Championship Series went to best-of-seven in 1985. It most recently happened in 2020, and had only happened previously in 2003 and 2004.

Back when the LCS was best-of-five from 1969 to 1984, both series went the full five games in the same year just twice, in 1972 and 1973.

this is the 4th time since the LCS expanded to best-of-7 in 1985 that both the ALCS and NLCS will go 7 games in the same year, joining:

2020
2004
2003

in best-of-5 format from 1969-84, both went the distance in the same season 1972-73 as well https://t.co/3SR9MIdnAi

— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) October 24, 2023

Ironically, the playoffs began with a historic four sweeps in the Wild Card Series.

The Rangers took an early lead over the Astros in their Game 7 on Monday, jumping out to a 3-0 advantage in the first inning. Houston chipped away at the deficit with a run of their own in the bottom of the frame, but they currently trail 8-2 in the fifth.

The Phillies and Diamondbacks will face off in Game 7 of the NLCS on Tuesday. First pitch is scheduled for 8:07 p.m. ET.

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