MLB: Everything you need to know ahead of the 2024 ALCS
by Tyler Doty | by Tyler Doty
ALCS Matchups
After the Wild Card round, we are getting closer to seeing who will duke it out in the 2024 World Series. In the American league, the Yankees and Royals are facing off in a heated best-of-5 series which is currently favoring the Yankees 2-1. The series moves to New York for the next round which is actually a good thing for a Royals team who have had more luck on the road than at Kauffman this post-season.
On the other side of the league, we have the favorite Guardians facing a surprising team in the Detroit Tigers. Currently leading the series 2-1, Detroit have the advantage before heading into Cleveland this evening. The Guardians are still favored at the top sportsbooks but have been the subject of controversy, unable to score a single run in their last two games. They'll have to show up in front of their home crowd and show some of the magic they displayed earlier in the season in order to top this Detroit team.
With these matchups in mind, let's shift gears a little and discuss the format for the 2024 ALCS, which differs from the Wild Card and Divisional Series formats. This stage consists of a best-of-7 series, with the first team to win 4 games advancing to the big dance. Home-field advantage is determined by the team with the better regular-season record. Home-field advantage for the ALCS means the winner will host the first 2 and last 2 games of the series (should it go to 7 games).
When is the ALCS?
As of today, the Division Series are underway, with the Yankees and the Tigers being the main favorites to secure a spot in the ALCS. However, the Royals and the Guardians have a chance to even things out in tonight's matches. As mentioned earlier, the current stage is a best-of-five series, so it’s too early to say which teams will advance to the decisive stage of the American League.
Despite this, the dates for the start of the championship activity are already known. Regarding the American League, the first game will take place on Monday, October 14th, while, if necessary, Game 7 will be played on October 22nd. The full schedule is as follows:
ALCS Match Dates
- Game 1: Monday, October 14th
- Game 2: Tuesday, October 15th
- Game 3: Thursday, October 17th
- Game 4: Friday, October 18th
- Game 5: Saturday, October 19th
- Game 6: Monday, October 21st
- Game 7: Tuesday, October 22nd
ALCS: The 4 Candidates for the Championship
- The AL team with the most titles to their name, 40 so far, are once again back in the running for the title. The Yankees last won an ALCS back in 2009 when Giardi's team went on to win the 2009 World Series against the Phillies. If they manage to win tonight and book their ticket to the ALCS, they will surely be the favorites against either Detroit or Cleveland.
- Next we have the sort of dark horse in this years ALDS in the Detroit Tigers. The Tigers are no stranger to the ALCS with 11 wins under their belt already. Most recently, the Tigers won the ALCS in 2012 where they went on to get absolutely pummeled by the Giants.
- The Tigers' ALDS rivals, the Cleveland Guardians rank third on this list with just 6 ALCS titles. They last won an ALCS back in 2016, when they eventually fell short to the Cubs in the 2016 World Series.
- Lastly, the KC Royals have won only 4 American League titles and are by far the underdogs in this year's ALDS. During their most recent run of good form, the Royals managed to win consecutive titles in 2014 and 2015, winning the 2015 World Series in dramatic fashion.
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