For the first time since 2011, the Texas Rangers have punched their ticket to the ALCS. They'll await the winner of the series between the Houston Astros and Minnesota Twins, a series which could be decided as soon as today.
The Astros are one win away from returning to the ALCS for the seventh-straight season. If they win, they'll host the Rangers in the first two games of the ALCS. However, the Twins have Joe Ryan on the mound Wednesday and could force a Game 5, setting up a classic matchup between Pablo Lopez and Justin Verlander.
Everything has still yet to be decided, but it will certainly be interesting to see what happens.
Still, an important question to ask is who the Rangers should be pulling for in the Astros-Twins series. Though Houston is one win away from the ALCS, the series is far from over. The ALCS will certainly be an exciting matchup, regardless of who wins the series between Houston and Minnesota.
The road won't be easy for the Rangers as they look to reach the World Series for the first time since 2011.
Who should the Texas Rangers be rooting for?
Why the Rangers should root for the Twins
A matchup between the Rangers and Twins would certainly be fun to watch. Both teams have solid pitching staffs and offenses that stack up well against one another.
But why might the Rangers be pulling for the Twins? Well, there are several reasons.
First, facing the Twins might be the path of the least resistance. That's not to say that the ALCS will be easy for the Rangers. But on paper, they have a better ballclub than the Twins and would more than likely be considered the favorites, even as the lower seed.
The Astros have also been to the ALCS six straight years, and the Rangers, along with fans outside of Houston may feel that it's time for some new blood in the American League. It would certainly be a nice way to shake things up and change things around a bit.
The Twins haven't won a postseason series since 2002, when they beat the Oakland Athletics in the ALDS before matching up with the Los Angeles Angels. Prior to the Wild Card Series, they hadn't won a playoff game since 2004.
A series between Texas and Minnesota would be good for baseball as two new teams would be fighting it out for AL supremacy.
Why the Rangers should root for the Astros
Why would the Rangers want to root for the Astros, you ask?
These two teams fought to the bitter end before the champion of the AL West was decided. In fact, the two teams finished tied at the top with records of 90-72, but with tiebreaker games no longer being a factor, Houston was awarded the division title by virtue of winning the season series.
But what better way to take revenge than to beat them in the ALCS? This would be a dream scenario for Texas. It would also be a very even competition and a solid matchup.
These two teams left everything on the line during the regular season and it might be fitting to see them both go it at in the ALCS and fight for AL supremacy.
A series between two rivals in the postseason is always fun, but when it comes down to the championship series, the rivalry reaches new heights, and the Rangers may want a second chance at taking down their hated AL West rivals.
It would also be gratifying for them to end the Astros reign as World Series champions.