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What you need to know about the League Championship Series matchups

The American League Championship Series kicks off with a clash between the Tampa Bay Rays and Cleveland Guardians, who meet for the third time in postseason play. The Rays, who swept the Yankees in the ALDS, enter as favorites after dominating Cleveland in five of six regular-season matchups, including three shutouts.

Their pitching depth and strong offensive production (.728 team OPS) will be tested against a Guardians team that relied on creative pitching strategies in their ALDS victory. José Ramírez, Cleveland’s star slugger, will be pivotal for the underdogs, having rebounded from injury with five hits and seven RBIs in the final three games of the ALDS.

Meanwhile, the National League Championship Series features the Milwaukee Brewers and Los Angeles Dodgers, who split a tight season series 4-3, with three Brewers wins coming in a critical four-game stretch in August. The Brewers, who won Game 1 of the NLCS on Sunday, will look to extend their momentum against a Dodgers team that has faced them closely throughout the year.

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